It’s so hard to post. My days are so full of teaching, learning, washing, cleaning, loving, playing… I’m loving every single second of it. (Well..maybe not the cold showers from a 2 liter bottle).  It's quite difficult to take just a few minutes out of my day and sit down on the computer. Since today is Sunday I was set on getting another post up.  Just as I was about to start Emma (one of the cousins of the family I’m staying with) saw me heading to my room and said “Malaika, I miss you.”  I’m not even sure why he said that because I’ve been with him all morning at church.  So of course I couldn’t go to my room and get on my computer.  I couldn’t resist his puppy dog eyes and beaming white teeth that he was smiling at me with.  They’re such a beautiful contrast against his deep black skin.  So after a few hours of playing pick-up-sticks, dominos, and a matching game with him and Gift, I’ve finally stolen a few minutes to write. 

In fact as I write, I can hear Somania from next door calling “Malaika! Malaika!” He is tempting me to come play with him and the other neighbor children.  That’s what everyone here calls me by the way.  It means “Angel” in Swahili (the closest translation to my name you can get). 

Anyway, if you only read one post of my entire summer – read this one!

I need your help.

 I have completely fallen in love.  As you can imagine I adore every single one of the children that I get just a glimpse of here in Uganda. However, one little boy in particular not only melts my heart but has completely taken hold of my spirit.  I couldn’t tell you why it is he who has broken me above all of the others.  He didn’t do anything particularly cute like some of the others who immediately came up to me and hugged me or kissed me on the cheek.  He doesn’t look he is wasting away at the bones – so it’s not my pity he’s got.   He can’t even speak any English so he hasn’t wooed me with his words. However, I know for certain that the Lord laid him on my heart in a different way than the other children here.

His name is Ason (full name Isimidiason) he is 6 years old.  The primary reason that I’m writing about him is because he has a horrible skin disease.  It’s not mumps or measles (I wish it were because I’m vaccinated against both).  It’s a horribly contagious infection that is a result of years of living and bathing in soiled filth.  When I asked Willy (who is the pastor I’m here with by the way) if we could do anything about it he quickly told me to stay away from the boy.  I know for certain that Willy loves children as much as I do but he also cares for my own health and safety. He told me that it was dangerous for me to have even touched him (little does he know I held him in my arms for about an hour caressing all over his bumpy arms and back.  Continuously repeating “Nkwagala Nyo – I love you – Nkwagala Nyo – I love you” back and forth to each other.)

These pictures do not do his poor skin justice - but here's an idea.

 I told him that I basically couldn’t not touch him as he is my favorite child among the hundreds I have hugged and kissed all over since I have been here.  After a long debate over our dinner of rice, beans, mango, and plantains covered in groundnut sauce, I tried to end the dispute with a statement that he couldn’t continue to argue with of “I’ll pray about it.” (Meaning, I’m going to touch him again. Sorry). Willy took my statement literally and that’s just what we did.  Mid dinner we took about a 20 minute break to pray for healing and protection over Ason. “But the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18

Now I have done a lot of reading about healing this past week and am reminded of just how amazing Jesus was while on this Earth for such a short time.  Here is just one of the many beautiful passages where we can see God’s goodness on this Earth as He healed through the work of Jesus. 

Luke 17:11-19

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

 11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border

between Samaria and Galilee (or how I like to read it, along the

border between Uganda and Kenya.) 12 As he was going into a village,

ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and

called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”

And as they went, they were cleansed.

  I prayed and prayed (and continue to pray) to see miracles here in Uganda this summer.  I put all my faith in Him so that He may move in might ways.  I think that as a Christian, particularly a Christian living in America, it’s really easy to become stagnant in your faith.  Just kind of playing the game where “faith” consists of church on Sunday morning and praying before dinner.  I’ve definitely done it.   Seeing the faith of these Ugandans is so inspiring.  The majority of them have very little education, very little food, very little clothes, very very little money, but yet they completely understand that they need nothing in this world.  Although in this life they have little, they have what’s important.  They have faith.  Faith that the Holy Spirit is alive in them and that God will do great things in their lives.  Like them, I will not be stagnant in my faith.  I’m choosing not to be an unbelieving believer. 

And this is where you come in.  I want to see Ason healed.  I want his skin to be rid of the bumps, from the open wounds, from the disease.  I want his skin to be clear, smooth, and vibrant.  Please pray for this beautiful little boy.  This boy’s family (and all of our neighbors for that matter)are Muslim.  I’ve been in quite a few debates with the boys next door over the Islamic religion.  I’ve been sure to tell his family and all of our neighbors (through translation) that I’m praying not only to God to heal him, but to my Lord Jesus Christ who healed so many when he was here (to the Jesus that they don’t believe in).   Pray for Ason.  A boy you will never meet, a boy who is 7,000 miles away from you.  I fully believe that God will do all that he has promised.  I want to in inherit His promises.  So I’m asking for them – I hope you do too.

Jeremiah 33:6

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it: I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

I just want to thank my family and my friends again for all of their love and support!  All that you gave me for my trip has been such a blessing here!  Gramma – as for the 5 flashlights you gave me – I don’t know what we would do with out them.  All 8 of us living in this house would have to share one single (very small) fire lantern.  Since the power goes out almost every night and it gets dark at 6:30 that would be almost unbearable.  Blake - (if you're reading this) I just started your book.  :)

I absolutely love it here.  Although, it's actually a lot harder than I expected.  From not being accustomed to deal with no power, no running water (haven't taken a shower in 3 days- yumm), this huge language barrier (which makes it difficult to teach), a diet which I'm not used to (nastiness), living with Tiana and Willy (both of whom I adore but living with anyone is difficult at times). Please just pray that I have the discernment and strength to deal with these situations like Jesus would.  Sometimes I just want to throw my hands up, cry in my others arms, and eat some chocolate.  I know that AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I just saw a mouse! It ran accross the floor into my backpack. If that doesn't emphasize what I just wrote, I don't know what does. Despite my daily struggles- I am so happy here. My days are just so filled with joy from these beautiful children that I get to spend my time with.  Observing my own spiritual maturity as I depend on my heavenly father alone for support is exciting.  Well, I’m off to prepare my 6 English lessons for tomorrow.  (Teaching 1^st – 6^th grade English!) More on that later. 

-Remind me to get a mouse trap. :(

Finally Here!

Sorry if nothing in this post makes sense.  It’s really late and I’ve had a long day loving all over some amazing Ugandan children but so much has happened and I have to start filling you in.

One thing I prayed over this trip is that we would see miracles. Many times in the New Testament Jesus told the people around him that he couldn’t perform miracles because they had no faith. (Matthew 13:58 – “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.) I wanted to show my faith so that God could show his faithfulness.  I wanted him to make the possible out of the humanly impossible. 

The miracles started before we barely began.  Once Willy and Tiana and I all got together in Chicago we almost missed our first flight.  We each had to check in 5 pieces of luggage (most of which we overweight) so it took forever.  Also, almost every one of our carry-on bags were checked by security.  As we were getting really close to missing the flight I told Tiana and Willy that they needed to stay with security while I ran ahead to stop the plane from leaving.  I sprinted towards our terminal and as the sweat poured off I begged the flight attendants to wait just a few more minutes before shutting the gate to the plane.  They said if I had come just one minute later it would have been closed.  I was so thankful for the Lord’s grace.  He has such a sense of humor.  I knew from that moment this summer is going filled with instances in which I have to trust the Lord to get me through. 

The second miracle we experienced was once we got off of our last flight.  As we waited by the baggage claim to get our 20 pieces of luggage filled with bibles, expensive sound equipment for the open air crusades, as well as all of our clothes, medicine, toiletries, etc. for the summer – we saw nothing.  Not one of our bags came around.  I immediately knew this is another one of those times when God just wants to get some glory. It’s so comforting to be able to rely on the Lord.  The verse we kept repeating to each other when we got worried about our luggage for the following day is Romans 8:28 -  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.” After a long two days in Kampala we finally got the call that our luggage had came!  Safe and sound we got it all back.

Although testing of the faith is challenging – it feels so good when it comes naturally, abundantly, and is that much stronger because of those times when you have to use it.  

Again, I’ve got lots to tell but no brainpower to do it. 



  

This picture kind of sums up the trip so far.  Yes, the stains all over my shirt are this beautiful baby’s pee. 

The pee symbolizes the cold showers in a basin.  Our lost luggage.  My cold (I have a horrible cough and horrible runny nose). Being dirty before I get of the door.  The frustration of the language barrier.  Missing my family. Having to eat some disgusting food in order to be polite. 

However the baby symbolizes the beauty of this trip.  The wonderful friends I made a few days ago that have already become my family.  The bright eyes and stunning smiles of all of the children in this village. The shouting of “mzungu” wherever I walk.   Seeing the Lord work in funny ways. The clear crisp Ugandan air.  Teaching new games.  My walks to the market with Mama DuDu.  Playing in the yard with Asha and Shamirah, making them repeat funny words in English.  Helping Mariam wash all of our clothes by hand.  Singing new songs. 

This summer is awesome.  Even if it all ended now and I had to go back to school, it would be the best summer of my life.  I’d be happy with the experience.  However, I’ve only been here for three days and have about 78 left.  I am SO excited.