Unsettled

For us it is a pipecleaner cross – for them it is the symbol of hope and the resurrection.

Today we met a young boy whose name is Merumbe. It means “without love”

I thought I misheard Stanley – one of the Ugandan pastors we are partnering with – and I asked him to tell me that one more time.

“It means ‘without love’ – his parent named him that most likely because his dad died from AIDS.

After that as we profiled him so he could then be sponsored by someone in the US – hopefully one of you for $31 a day . . . . I wept.

And we found out he lives with his dad and 2 brothers. There is no mom.

And his name is without love. And at some point – if not already – he knows that.

What would we do if that was our name?????

It’s different . . . much easier to blog in India when you go back to a 5 star hotel (granted, in India standards) and you have that environment in which to ponder and write.

Before I left Mark Jordan and I were chatting and he said “Surely it can’t be worse than what you experienced in India.” “Good point.” I responded.

Oh how I was wrong.

But let me say it is not “worse” as in bad . . . but I don’t think there is a human being on this trip that will say their heart remains unchanged. I guess “unbroken” would be the best way I could describe it.

Sunday’s worship was powerful at both churches. One group went to Stanley’s church and another group went to Geoffrey’s. In both worship experiences it was evident that God is universal and bridges all gaps between culture. At Stanley’s, the worship songs were chosen by the congregation (five minutes before the service started – gives new meaning to worship planning) and both languages filled the room as the songs of faith resonated among the people.

I had the privilege of preaching at Geoffrey’s church and other than forgetting that I had to STOP and wait for the interpreter to interpret my words and luckily the Williamson’s Chapel people yelled out “WHOA” it was again evident that God’s presence is far reaching. The praise team sang out “You Are Good” and the familiar lyrics and tune brought a peace that settled the team.

Sunday afternoon brought two more villages - - - one that truly was on the banks of the Nile River. As we stood there among the huts and the sun set over the banks of the Nile it seemed children came from everywhere.

In the thousands of years that we know that humanity has existed in that area I seriously doubt circumstances have changed. And the even more potent part of that realization was the lack of want or need. The villagers had peace. Yet there was extreme excitement as the van rumbled in. Roads? What roads!!?!?!?!?! Some “dirt” paths define roads . . .

The women made cross necklaces from the pipe cleaners and beads we brought from America and only later did we learn how important that was because the women from a neighboring village/tribe had enough resources to have their own beaded jewelry and the women of this area had nothing but literally the clothes on their backs. But now they have beads – in the shape of a cross. And the woman that I sat beside looked at me and said, “I am a Christian.”

That was all she knew how to say. But for her that was enough!

I only have internet for 1 minute and the team REALLY wants something posted – so this is all for now . . .

But as I leave the internet realm – the things I REALLY DESPERATELY want to never forget –

The group of children with bellies so distended from poverty standing around behind us a we circled today on the land Geoffrey (Ugandan pastor) has already purchased “Acres of Hope” and we blessed and prayed over that land – after we said “Amen” all the children started clapping. They could have NO IDEA what we were doing or saying but their clapping was a true sign from God that hope and joy abounds among the desert and the starvation and the death.

Eryn surrounded by a bunch of African women with smiles so large because they had some beads.

Morgan, Julie, Layne, Andrew, and Lance doing the parachute and the soccer and OF ALL THINGS the “Chicken Dance” without any words to entertain the children – and then the African women RUNNING up so they could do the dance too.

Meeting SaraBeth, Whitney, K.B., and Lacey and seeing their passion and sacrifice for the African people.

Pat, Lance, Scott, Kathy, Eryn, Layne, Andrew, Morgan, Julie and myelf are blessed to be a part of WCUMC. We are sad to get ready to come home but also READY because we have much to share!

Until then...