I will never forget

Day 6 in Uganda

Yesterday I finished reading Red Letters and started reading Billy by William Paul McKay and Ken Abraham. The book is about Billy Graham’s youth. I have been interested in Billy Graham since I met George. Today I continued reading and I am almost halfway done with the book. I love it.  During the day it is very hot. It is the dry season. It cools off around 5 pm. That is the time we usually go on our walks to visit with the people in the village. Gideon and his sister Miriam came in to see me and brought us some more sugar cane. I sat in the floor with them and showed them how to put a puzzle together. Ritah came in and helped me by teaching them in Luganda.

Today I walked up to the church where the choir was practicing. I sat and watched a while. The ladies were taking all the girls’ hair down out of plaits on the vacant side of the church. They have been doing that now for days. George stopped me and asked if I was going to take any pictures of the women across the way at the school. The women are learning to bead while the children are out for holiday.  Their school schedule is much different than in America. They have class for 3 months, then they’re on holiday for 1 month.  Beading is another way for the people in the village to sustain themselves. I walked over and got some pictures. While outside the door a saw a small child around 3 or 4 years old chopping a jackfruit with a machete. 

After entering inside the school, I saw the artist, Moses, teaching the ladies how to make the beads. The women are truly beautiful. I hugged a sweet elderly lady who was sitting on the floor. All the women laughed with excitement. I walked around to observe the work they were doing. I told them how beautiful their work was. I hugged another lady and told her she was beautiful. They all laughed again and I overheard a lady telling her in Luganda what I had said. When I left they were all smiles. These women work hard. You can see that in their hands. 

(Moses, Ekubo Ministries' artist)

Then I walked behind the church to see what the men were working on. They were laying foundation for a building. These people never stop working - from the time they get up in the early morning till they go to bed at night. Then I walked down the hill back towards the house. As I approached, the lady that George had offered a job as a teacher was standing in the doorway of one of the classrooms. She was studying for school. I was blown away. Yesterday when we asked her if she was happy about the job she didn’t seem very thrilled.  But when I saw her here I knew God was serious about making her part of His plan. She thanked us for what we had done yesterday. She didn’t ever look me in the eyes (something that is culture here). She told me to tell Christie thank you. I can see Jesus in the eyes of these people. I love every single one of them.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

When I got back Gideon and Miriam were waiting on me. I gave them both a vitamin. I put some things in a bag for them - toothbrushes for the entire family, some toothpaste, a comb, toothpicks, and bandaids. Christie and I got up some stuff for Lydia’s family.  She’s the little girl who died last week of malaria. She was only 4 years old. Malaria is easily treated, and they brought her to the makeshift clinic that George and Christie have in a small room attached to the church.  But the clinic doesn’t have the equipment to test for malaria so they were sent to Bombo, the closest little town with a clinic.  They treated her but when she didn’t show improvement, they took her to another clinic.  That is where she left this world and went to be with Jesus.  George and Christie could have helped but Lydia’s mom didn’t contact them because she knew the clinic couldn’t help, so she didn’t think about them helping personally.  They were broken and God put it on their hearts to raise money to build a clinic so that no other child that Ekubo Ministries serves will die of a preventable disease.  The men and women here have so much hope that the clinic will be built, that they've even started clearing the land where it will be.  

We gathered together some things for her family as well - toothbrushes, toothpaste, candy, floss with toothpicks, a razor, a comb, vitamins for the mom, and some pictures that Christie had sent me of Lydia that I printed and brought here with me. People here don’t have pictures of their kids. So if one dies they have no way to remember them except memory. 

I got Gideon and Miriam a cold bottle of water and told them we would take them home on the way. The kids and Wilson (one of Christie and George’s kids) loaded up in the van. We headed out. The sun was setting. It was unbelievably beautiful. Christie got a few shots out the window. 

I took some pictures of some children along the way. We made our way down a tiny foot trail. That van goes places I have never seen. We arrived at the house were Lydia lived. Christie said it was so weird not seeing her there. She was the first to greet whenever they came to see her. Miria was standing outside. She immediately came and hugged me. She held on tight. It made me think of her poor sister she had to bury a little over a week ago and how she must miss her. Then she hugged Christie.  Momma Lydia met us outside. She was holding a tiny baby girl. Her name was Bridget Morgan. Oh wow she named her baby girl after her daughter’s sponsor, Morgan Phillips. What an honor. We gave her the things we had gotten together for her family. When she looked at the pictures of her precious Lydia that went to be with Jesus, I about had a melt down. I had to keep my cool for Momma Lydia’s sake. She looked through them and her hands moved so slowly. I held back my tears. 

The thought of losing a child just scares me to death, but here it is expected. How sad is that? To think the likelihood of your children surviving things like preventible diseases are slim to none. And that is not the only child she has lost. One of her sons brought out a mat for us to sit on. Christie got the baby and we walked down to Lydia’s grave. I had to brace myself for what was about to come. We walked down a path that had been cleared for the burial. There in the distance was a cement slab with a tiny cross in front of it. I was broken. I took a picture right before I got close to the grave. When I looked in my view finder her mother was just to the left of it. Her look was solemn. I will never forget this scene. 

I walked closer to observe the little grave. My heart rushed with emotions. I approached and the closer I got I started to smell flowers. I looked around but there were no flowers around. They don’t bring flowers for the dead here. I kept smelling the sweetness, so I asked Christie what it was and she replied, “Lydia”. What a wonderful experience I will never forget. I had thought the same thing but I just didn’t want to say it. Lydia was a sweet girl, a beautiful flower. 

(the word at the very bottom is Luganda for "suddenly")

As I looked at her hand written tombstone, I thought about her in heaven with Jesus, where we all want to be. I looked to my right and noticed another grave. Christie asked if there were any other graves here and Momma Lydia said “many”. The one to the right was her other child. How devastating. We made our way out of the overgrown graveyard. They don’t visit graves here. After the weeds and foliage grow back the graveyard will not be visited until someone else dies. We walked back to their home, where we stood visiting for a short while longer.  Christie was having Wilson ask Momma Lydia if she needed anything.  She said they need sugar, salt, and soap.  And then Bridget Morgan peed all down the front of Christie's shirt and skirt.  Twice.  She made sure to tell her that we'd be bringing cloth diapers, too!  We hugged all the kids goodbye and headed back home. When we arrived the power was on and the living room was filled with kids and grownups. When the power is on, they come here to watch TV. They don’t care what is on. Their eyes never leave the screen. Last night they watched a movie Bambi Rockhold sent called Evan Almighty. They laughed till it went off. Most of them don’t even understand what is said. This house is full of love.


Now here it is 11:35 pm. Christie and I are having tea time. We miss Moses being here. He always got us a cup of tea in the morning and before we would even ask - a cup at bedtime. This time we had to make our own. Who in America would drink milk from a boiler that had been sitting on the stove since morning? Us, that is who. As Christie spooned the milk out trying to miss the bugs, we are thankful. We are in Uganda, folks!  Anything goes here. Not bathing for days, no fast food, no chocolate, no running water, power that is unreliable, gas $6 a gallon, no air conditioning, cooking on charcoal, but not for grilling, sleeping under a mosquito net, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. This is the simple life. No distractions, just you and God. The way things ought to be. We are here in the bed laughing about a huge moth that just magically appeared in the mosquito net after I had just got it out. She is laughing so hard that she sounds like a dying horse. I told her “Christie, Christie, how did it get back in here, hurry up and find the hole!”  She said “You almost woke up the whole village fighting off a moth!” This is how you have fun in the village.

Great!  Now there’s a spider that could easily fit in the palm of my hand.  I took the flashlight to go find my flip flop and Christie threw it at it a couple of times but now it’s hanging out at the top of the wall.  Way out of reach.  Good thing I have my mosquito net protecting me!  

Have faith

Day 5 in Uganda

This morning we got up and got ready to take Moses to school. Christie, Josiah, Moses and I headed out to Munta Royal College in Bombo. I held Josiah as we went down the dirt road. Car seats aren’t necessary here and we never hit a main road the whole 10 miles. I enjoyed the scenery on the way. When we got to the school, we all got out to say our goodbyes and Moses wanted to show off his baby brother. Next thing we knew they were gone. He had taken Josiah on the school tour to see all of his friends. Moses unloaded his things and we were on our way back home. The rest of the day, with the power going on and off, we worked on the pictures for my blog posts for the previous days.

(Josiah sweat all over me.  It is SO hot here!)

While Christie and I worked on the pictures, the siblings of the baby we met on our walk yesterday showed up at the door.  We had told them we would come around with clothes but they misunderstood us and brought her to us to get them.  When Christie laid the baby down to find her some clothes, she started crying. I noticed she had some congestion and a cough. The baby girl continued to cry. She is very small for a 2 month old. She may weigh 7 pounds. As Christie undressed her, she saw a ringworm on the bend of her arm. She was so tiny. Christie showed her older sister how to put on a cloth diaper. Christie dressed her in a new outfit. The baby girl looked so precious. We showed them how to swaddle her in a blanket to hush her from crying and it worked. The baby seemed so happy. We told them to bring her to the doctor Saturday to be checked for her ringworm and sickness. How wonderful it is for these people to have free healthcare. 

Later on, Christie and I went on another walk. Some kids carried water as we walked behind them. At the end of the road there was a boy hiding behind a barrel at the corner house, peeking over at us. A woman was in the yard with a baby tied to her back. We were taking some formula to the youngest son of an Ekubo Ministries’ shoe maker here in the village. The mother spoke great English, so we stayed and talked for a while. We told her how to mix the formula and if the little boy doesn’t like it, to mix a little sugar with it. 

She looked ashamed and told us she couldn’t afford sugar. Sugar here has gone up 3 times the price it was just a little while ago. She told us how there is no money in Uganda. She had left her home here in the village to work at a school serving food in Kampala. When she returned home the youngest son looked poorly because the father was not taking proper care of him. She has no job now and told us how they couldn’t afford food. Her husband hasn’t been able to work because of lack of sponsors for shoes (Ekubo Ministries finds people to sponsor the shoes for $10/pair and they’re put right onto the feet of children here in the village). 

Christie explained to her that she was overwhelmed with trying to tie up loose ends because school was about to start that she hasn’t found time to seek more sponsors for the shoes.  Over and over again, the lady spoke about different struggles.  Christie kept telling her to have faith.  Just have faith that God’s timing is perfect.  She asked her what she wanted to do for work and she told us how she wanted to sell fish from her front yard, but didn’t not have the funds for food let alone for a small business. Christie told her that George had just had a meeting and they were discussing seeking some micro finance loans that would lend her the funds to start up a business and when she had a steady income, the funds could be repaid and lent out to another person.  

Their house was very small. Mats were piled up inside. Six people are living in that house. Two of her children have already died of malaria. She wants a future for her children. My heart was broken. Two of her children are sponsored. One of the others is too old for the school here. She wants him to get a higher education but can’t afford it. Christie and George have plans to build a bigger school so that they can have additional grades. They currently have pre-primary through P4, but the students that pass P4 have nowhere to go next year. The problem is money. There again money stops something so precious to these people. We started to leave because it was getting dark. The families here always escort you to the end of the driveway.  But this family continued to walk with us.  All of them. It was so dark I couldn’t see anything. I hit my toe on a rock and kept going. Then I almost went down when I hit a hole in the road.  During the dry season, it’s really dusty on the red dirt roads.  I almost went down when my flip flop slid on a pile of dust and I went into a hole in the road.  Abbas and his older brother (about 13) each grabbed one of my hands and helped me down the road. Kids here are so sweet. 

Christie said to the lady, “Goodness!  Your English is so good.  Have you ever talked to George?”  They lady replied “no, I fear him”. Christie asked, “Why do you fear him? Don’t fear him.”  We found out later that, because he is the leader here in the village, that it just meant that she respected him so much that she couldn’t approach him. She said she has always wanted to talk to him but hasn’t. She walked us to the top of the compound and told us to have a good night. Christie had already told her that she would give the youngest child some clothes. Christie stopped her and asked, “Aren’t you going to come get some clothes? I will drive you all back home.” The lady approached the house meekly. She seemed ashamed to enter. Christie told her to come in. They came in and we found clothes for the youngest. Christie had given the older siblings clothes not long ago, but she didn’t have any for the little one at the time. Christie told George how well the lady speaks English. George said, “then she needs to come teach at the school.”  I was blown away. Here not 20 minutes ago, she was telling us how she didn’t have a job. God is good, people! All the time. We loaded the kids and their mother in the van. I got the kids some water. Christie asked George to put some sugar in a container. We headed down the road to their home. We dropped them off and said our goodbyes. As the lady rounds the corner of the van, Christie says, “Mama, come.  Here is some sugar for your family” and handed her the container. The look in the lady’s eyes was priceless. She was so humbled.  Her husband is Muslim, but the lady said “God bless you.” My heart is full.

God's children

Day 3 in Uganda

I woke up to the laughter of children that were playing right outside my window.  The sounds of a goat and chickens reminded me where I was. I heard the people up and working since early morning and people singing at the church. This place is so amazing. I got up and told Christie I wanted to go to church. She brushed her hair and we were off. How great it is to wake up, not have to bathe, and walk up to church. They were bringing the Word in Luganda. George’s mother is a pastor there. Later Moses came in to translate. They sang songs and I swayed with Josiah. Those people dance and praise the Lord like none I have ever seen. No shame, just loving the Lord. Brian, one of Christie and George’s children, and a little girl named Alice, got up and sang Glory to God in English. When it came time for the offering, someone had no money, but gave a bag of beans. I was so humbled. These people have nothing, yet they give. 

During church we saw a baby girl with orange hair. Christie asked Moses to translate and tell the people if they have a baby with orange hair to bring him/her to the house so we could give them formula. Lack of nutrients causes the hair to turn orange. Formula provides nutrients for the children and their hair will turn back black. Momma Sylvia (parents here are not called by their names, they are called momma and one of their children’s names) brought the baby we saw in church with orange hair and gave her formula and a bottle.  So many people bring formula into places like this but they give no instructions on how to use it.  Because a lot of people still practice Witchcraft here, they believe that all kinds of things are because someone is bewitched.  Children with disabilities.  Children with orange hair.  You name it.  So they often end up not using the things people donate to them unless they’re shown how to use them and educated as to why they are needed.  So we explained why her baby girl’s hair was orange and taught her how to correctly mix the formula with water to make bottles. 

Later I started reading a fantastic book called Red Letters by Tom Davis. This book talks about how Christians used to live, by the red letters in the bible (Jesus’ words) and how most modern Christians have forgotten what being a Christian is all about - helping the poor, sick, vulnerable, orphaned, and widowed. And I am almost finished with the book.

I wanted to go see one of my sponsored children, Gideon, so Moses and I sat out on an adventure. Gideon and his family hold a special place in my heart. Land rights are very different here compared to the States.  If a man dies and does not “own” the land he is squatting on, his neighbor can take it from the family by force.  Gideon’s neighbor hired some thugs to kill Gideon’s father, Elisha (pronounced with a long i).  Shortly after Christie arrived in the village to live, these thugs began watching Elisha.  They would watch him walk to his garden, work, and go home.  In January 2011, after the sun had set, they ambushed their home.  Elisha managed to tell his wife and the children to run, but not before they witnessed the thugs slaughter all their cows, goats, and chickens.  Then they tied Elisha up by his neck and arm, hung him by the rafters in their home, stole everything they didn’t kill, demolished their home (it was a mud home) and left him for dead.  His wife and children hid out until it was safe, and then they went for help.   He went to George and Christie for help and, long story short, he is now able to use his arm again.  

As we were making our way up the mountain, we came upon a shrine where they practice witchcraft. Half way up the mountain, Moses looked down at my feet and told me to be still. I thought I had stepped on something and I stepped back.  Big mistake. I felt horrible stinging on my foot, and then more. I looked down and my feet were covered in black bugs.  Ants!!!! I have never in my life felt an ant bite so hard. They were so huge.  I kicked my shoe off. I got the ones off my feet but they were attacking my flip flop. Moses got my shoe while I hopped on one foot. He pulled them off and I could hear them being ripped from my shoe. Then Moses told me they are dangerous, so I began to worry that I might die.  I asked why.  He said, “You don’t realize you have them on you and you can end up in the congregation.  They start biting and they can make you naked and the people will think you have become bewitched.” Ok, what a relief . After I got up the mountain and under the barbed wire, I felt another bite right above my under wear. I turned my skirt down and there was another ant. I thumped it through the air.  We passed the cow and a dog tied on a rope was about to kill us. It kept barking and jumping at us. Momma Gideon hugged me so sweetly and welcomed me. I gave the shirts from Karen Carr to the kids. I didn’t see Gideon, but I did see his sweet sisters Hope and Miriam. They hugged me and Hope told me she loved me.  They called for Gideon and he came running.  He was so out of breath. He hugged and kissed me on the cheek. Gideon raised a hen for a year, and knowing that I would be back, he told his mother when I came back he was gonna give me some eggs. We sat and they brought us eggs. They really love me and I love them. On the way out, I saw some sweet puppies and I grabbed one. Elisha picked up a puppy and wanted to take a picture with me. How I love this family. They walked us a little further and we said our goodbyes. We saw some cows and I told Moses about the time that Matt and I got chased by a bunch of cows and our half grown German Shepherd stopped the cows full stop. 

I stopped to take a picture of the beautiful sunset and an elderly man stopped me and wanted me to take his picture. He asked Moses when to expect his copy of his photo. I told Moses to tell him I would bring him one when I come back in the summer. Moses told me he has probably never seen himself and he would love to have the photo. As we walked down the main dirt road I ministered to the kids. Moses snapped some pictures. I told some kids that we would be bringing clothes back to. One of the older kids had a pair of shorts on that was missing the whole front seam. They don’t wear underwear here so he had nothing really covering himself.  I was heartbroken. We will get him some clothes this week for sure.

Day 4 in Uganda

We had hot tea for breakfast. I heard the choir practicing at the church, so Christie and I loaded up our cameras and Josiah and walked there. The children were so proud to have us there. They were extraordinary. We played around with different settings on our cameras. We got some videos of the kids dancing and the choir director had the two smallest boys sit down for a eating contest. They were eating chapati (similar to a tortilla). Then he had the smallest girls sit down for the eating contest. Ritah and Mayi were up against one another. Mayi was shoving her face full of chapati. She put so much that she began to gag and spit it all out. We all busted out in laughter. We came back home for lunch. I read some more of my book. Some kids were peeping in the front door so I went outside for a while. I helped some kids pump some water. Christie and I passed out some clothes, vitamins and candy to the kids that were here on the compound.

Yesterday, I told Moses I wanted to see Mastula. This is a girl Matt fell in love with on our trip here in June 2011. He told me to give her a hug for him. This is also Katie Lawson’s sponsored child and she sent a doll for her. Christie, Moses, Josiah and I all headed out for Mustula’s house on foot. We visited with Mathias’ grandmother. She is a precious woman. As we were leaving the compound some young kids were loading a huge bike with jerry cans full of water (they don’t ride the bike, they just use it to transport water), and we met up with them after visiting with Mathias’ grandmother. They were have problems pushing up the hill with the bike loaded down with jerry cans, so I helped them push it up. These kids have my heart wrapped around their fingers. Along the way Christie and I were taking pictures. She noticed a tree stump that looked like a statue. We saw some kids carrying bundles of sticks. We brought along candy to give to the kids, so Moses asked the kids if they wanted any candy. The kids that were carrying the sticks dropped them and, along with the rest of the kids, came running. 

We finally reached Mustula’s home and many children awaited us. Mustula has a face you can never forget. I love her with all of my heart. Not that I don’t love them all, but she holds a special place. When Matt met her, I think his heart melted. His heart melted for Uganda. If he never wanted to be here, he did then. He gave her the bracelet off his wrist. It was too small so he put it on her ankle. I looked at her feet and I cried. Her toe nail had fallen off and her feet were full of jiggers. My heart hurts for her. When you look into her eyes you can see her soul. We gave her the doll and she loved on it like it was a real baby. 

We gave the other kids candy and told the parents we would be back to clothe them later this week. Then a girl with a small infant walked up. She was so tiny. We asked the age and she told us she was 2 months. Christie held her as I took their picture. Then I held her. Christie said “she is pooping on you.” I thought she was just playing, but she was not and babies don’t wear diapers around here or anything for that matter. So I wiped my arm on my shirt and kept on holding her. 

We carried on towards the house.  On the way we ran into Hussein, a little boy that had fallen into a fire and it deformed his hand. His finger fused to the back of his hand. He had surgery to have the finger cut free, but it still doesn’t function properly. His head is burned so badly. I touched the top of his head and the skin was so tight. I can’t imagine the issues he might face as his head grows, because he is only around 5. 

We walked further and we heard the sound of drums. As we approached the next home, we saw that is was not drums at all, but kids pounding on jerry cans and a girl was dancing. I asked Christie if she was part of the choir, because by her dancing I could tell she was not as good as the choir. Christie said “no”. My heart melted. This girl wanted to be part of the choir. She was practicing and the boys were practicing their drum skills. They watch the choir practicing outside looking through the windows of the church and go home and practice what they see. How sweet!  

We got close to home and I saw the power is on. The power here goes on and off when ever it pleases. It can be off for days.  Even months. Right as we hit the front door it went off. I had planned on heating some water for my basin so I could bathe, but it looks like I won’t tonight. I ate my supper of rice, some tasty sauce and beans. It was delicious. Then Christie and I came into my room for some girl time. I love our time together. God has made a beautiful friendship between us. She is the sister I never had.

The place He has led me to...

My flight to Uganda

Wednesday night my flight was changed unexpectedly. I was a little upset, because I thought I was going to have to leave America a day later, which would eat into my time here. I stayed on the phone with a booking agent for an hour trying to get it all straightened out. Finally my flight was booked for earlier the same day I was suppose to leave. What I didn’t know was that God’s plan was in effect. The only part of my trip that changed was having 3 layovers instead of 2. I had to fly out of Atlanta to Detroit, Detroit to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Kigali, Kigali to Entebbe, when I was just supposed to fly straight to Amsterdam. On my hour and thirty-five minute flight, I got to minister to a very nice man named Bill. 

I pulled out my camera bag (which doubled as a purse) to get my chapstick. The seat was empty between me and Bill. When he saw my bag, he asked if I was a professional. I told him that I just used it to take pictures of my kids and I was headed to Uganda to take pictures during my trip. So he asked why I was doing over there. This was my chance to share about Jesus and Ekubo Ministries. After sharing my life story, he was amazed by where I had come and where I am now. He asked if he could share my story with his 14 year old daughter. “Of course”, I told him. What a great way to share what God has done in my life, and so many others. How He can take nothing and turn it into something. Beauty from ashes.


Day 1 in Uganda

My flight landed in Uganda at around 10:30 p.m. I didn’t get out of the airport till around 12:30 a.m. Christie, George, my sponsored child Ali, Ritah, Viola, Godfrey, and Kakumba were there waiting on me. I squeezed the kids a few times and we were on our way. We reached home at about 2 am. Last time we stayed, Matt and I had to sleep on a mattress in the floor. Oh, but not this time. I have my own little space. 

Looks like a bed for a princess with all the mosquito nets around it and after not sleeping for 2 days during my flight, I thought I was gonna fall out. NOT. Christie and I stayed up talking until about 3 am. She got up and washed the bottle she planned on using when Josiah got up to eat. Right after she got it washed she literally flies across the floor from the doorway of the kitchen to the chair screaming, “there is a rat in the corner”. We sat paranoid for about 30 minutes. Every little sound we hushed. Later she said “you think I should wake Josiah up to give him a bottle?” I said “no just let him sleep.” It was not 5 minutes later when I heard the little runt. She got him out of bed. Of course I wanted to feed him, so she got the bottle ready and I fed him. After he was fed he was a happy boy. So Josiah and I had a great conversation until it was time for bed, then momma wasn’t happy, because little Magera wasn’t having any sleep. In fact, he stated he wasn’t going to bed, but after a long bout with the darkness and the bed, he proceeded to go to sleep. Poor baby. 


Day 2 in Uganda

I didn’t wake until around 11 am. I was so exhausted I believe I could have slept the whole day. George informed me I had a lot to do today. I started off with a cup of hot African tea, something I missed so much after being back in the States. The milk here is so much better. After you have fresh milk, you never can go back to that homogenized milk. Later went went to a NGO audit. I learned so much about the people here working on the ground. They each discussed what they have done and then the auditors evaluated each of their strengths and weaknesses. I was humbled by the choir director, Grace. When asked what motivated him, he says “I don’t want to be paid, all I care about is those kids”. My heart melted. He is awesome at his job. He is a great man. 

Those kids have come a very long way since I saw them perform last June. They are so happy and I truly believe he has contributed to that. They could go far. They could have a better life. They could change the future of this village, but you know what stops them? Money. They need costumes to perform. With costumes they could perform for fundraisers and Ekubo Ministries could have another way to support the ministry. How disheartening is it that money could stop the livelihood of those kids? The artist, Moses, had a smile as wide as this country. He didn’t have many questions asked because when he started talking, he answered them all. He was very up front with everyone. He was so educated. When he left, I asked George, “where did you get him from?” George says “I found him on the streets”. That is God, people, and what a divine appointment that was. The others were educated as well, but they didn’t stand out as much as those guys. My heart was full when I left that meeting.

Later I went on a walk with Moses to see if I could find some mangos. What I didn’t know was that they are out of season, but we enjoyed the walk anyway. We stopped by several homes. We stopped by Zziwa’s biological parents’ home. They were so happy to see me again. They talked about the wedding ceremony Matt and I had here back in June. Everyone was wondering where Matt was. They miss him and so do I. I wish he could have come this time. They gave me some fried G-nuts and we were on our way. 

When we got back home the choir wanted to perform for us. I watched in amazement. These kids have so much talent. The smiles on their faces were priceless. They love what they do. By the end of the performance it was dark so we walked back to the house. How wonderful this place is. I have missed it so much. I feel at home here. I don’t care about running water or a cell phone. I don’t even care about not having a bathroom. I just love the Lord and the place He has led me to. Amen.

(one of my sponsored children, Ali, who is also George & Christie's son)

I Am Going Back!!!

Some think I am crazy, some think I am doing the wrong thing, but I know what my heart says. My heart is in Uganda and until my feet hit Ugandan soil, I won't be complete. Yes I love my children but I will only be gone a little while. But I have children there too, children that need me, children that need to know Jesus's love and who can argue that?

June of this year I traveled to Uganda with my heart full for its people. My husband and I stayed with Christie and George Magera. They have given hope to a once witchcraft village, but there is still so much more to do. God put Christie and George in my life for a reason and it was a divine appointment and right on time. My life was headed no where. I had quit college because I couldn't afford to travel, let alone student loans. And just so happen God showed up and my life hasn't been the same since. So my husband and I set out for Uganda. I was so overwhelmed with the love I had for this place. It was so beautiful, but filled with so much hopelessness. I did NOT want to leave. These people need us. They need to know someone cares. They need to know the love of God. They are hopeless. They live day to day not knowing if they or their children will live. They don't have healthcare. They don't have food. They think they have no reason to live, but that is why God uses us. He wants us to help our brothers and sisters across the world.


So with that said, I am going to take over things they need, such as formula, clothes, etc. If you have any powdered formula or know anyone that has any, please contact me stormy_jones2008@yahoo.com. Formula is very important because AIDS is a big problem there and babies can get it through the mother's breast milk if she is infected. And if you feel lead to donate toward my trip, you can do so to the left of the blog post or send a check. Email me for my address. Plane fare is high, but I know God will provide. Thank you for reading and God bless.


And if you want to know about Christie's wonderful story, including her love story, click on the link to the right that says "Compass in My Heart"


This is what hope looks like, a before and after. No one told her to smile. She knows she is loved.

Necklace Fundraiser

Back in June I went to Uganda for a mission trip. I visited with my friends Christie and George Magera from Ekubo Ministries in Bugabo Village. The village is full of needs. They have a doctor that comes to the village every Saturday for free care to the villagers, but the doctor however is not free to Christie and George. They have struggled to pay for the clinic, but it is beginning to be too much for them to fund themselves. There are so many needs and continue to multiply daily. God has always provided for them through the hearts of others, now it is your turn.

Ekubo Ministries in doing a fundraiser to win a beautiful necklace made by Dawn Patterson of Funky Fish Designs. There are 3 ways you can enter.

1) Make a donation = 1 entry per every $5
2) Share the link to their blog on FB (in addition to any donation amount)= 1 entry
www.compassinmyheart.blogspot.com
3) Blog about the giveaway (in addition to any donation amount)= 3 entries

Learn more about what God is doing through Ekubo Ministries at www.ekuboministries.org. Thank you so much for your support and God bless.

I Left My Heart in Uganda

I must have read a hundred articles and looked at a million pictures, but nothing prepared me for the life in Uganda. The children in the morning singing and laughing, the smell of cooking on the roadside, the eyes of the people, all of it rendered me speechless. I believe God showed me the true meaning of living there in Uganda. Before then I was caught up in this thing we call life.

In Uganda, I visited some of my friends Christie and George Magera and their wonderful family. I miss them so much. They welcomed us like we were family. They gave us a wedding celebration that the royals would be jealous of. There was dancing and singing. The women stayed up all night cooking by a one bulb light

for the celebration.I love all the people there. They were all so humble. I felt truly welcomed.

I couldn't have a complaint in the world, how could I when the people around me had nothing. I saw children bathing in plastic tubs. Homes made of mud and grass.

Children walking for miles to get to school. People never complained. I never saw children crying or fussing, they just LIVE. The streets are filled with people, not shopping and eating in resturants, but working in the garden or making bricks. These people know how to live.

Everywhere we went some one gave us something to eat or cook. Matt and I are going to miss the food there. The food here in America is so processed. Everything there is natural. I drank milk straight from the cow (and it is delicious in hot tea). Fast food over there is going down the road and stopping in a village and people run up to your car with things they have cooked to sale. I ate chicken on a stick and it was awesome and talking fast, we were outta there in 2 minutes with chicken, a roasted plantain, and a cold drink.

A chicken that was given to us by our sponsored son's father, that we got to have for supper


But where my heart lyes is with the children. I miss them so much. Their loving hearts melted mine. I hugged and loved on every child that would let me. The first day we were welcomed by all the children in the village. They sang and danced for us. I spotted Gideon the little boy I sponsor. After the performance was done, some children came over and we got to met some of our sponsored kids. They were so shy. I tickled and played with them all. I sat one of my sponsored kids in my lap, she was so nervous, she had no idea how much I love her. Then later that day I had a visitor. It was Gideon. He brought me his report card and some avocados. He was so happy to see me that he kissed my cheeks a million times and sat in my lap. This time he wasn't shy at all. I later learned that from that day forward, none of them would be shy. Hugs would come from nowhere.

I loved them and they loved me back. In a world where parents don't love on there children, there was love. As I think of them all, it brings tears to my eyes, cause I know they miss us. I saw Jesus in every face. I saw His feet and hands. Matt and I walked some kids a long way home cause it was about to rain, we turned to go back home and they followed.