On Saturday morning, we were invited to travel to Redeemer
Children’s Home (Orphanage) in Moyo which is run my Sister Pasqua. It isn’t
often that visitors get to travel to Moyo to spend a few days with the children
because the trip is long. So we began the journey at around 1pm on Saturday
with our driver, James, Sister Pasqua, and Sister Florence. The total time with
a couple of stops was about 7 hours long.
When pulling up to the orphanage we were greeted with a song
from the children. It was pretty amazing to step out of the van and have 25+
kids singing, hugging us, and shaking our hands. We were quickly showed to our
room where Sister Pasqua let us freshen up before dinner at 9pm.
That next morning, we attended 2nd Mass with
Sister Pasqua at 9:30am. I really don’t know how to describe my experience, but
I know that I will never forget it. It has been a very long time since I sat in
a service where every seat was full and people had to stand. Since 2nd
Mass is in English, it was not difficult to follow the order of worship. The
sermon discussed the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians. Not only was this
service fascinating to observe, but it was also very applicable to my own life.
It is truly amazing how God can speak to me through so many different avenues.
After Mass, we visited the Sacred Heart Convent. This
Convent is the starting point for girls in training where they begin the five
year process to becoming a Sister. It was a beautiful campus with such
beautiful girls ready to follow the calling that God has placed on their lives.
After returning to the orphanage, we ate lunch and had the Sunday afternoon
nap. I thought that only Oklahomans did that … apparently not! After a quick
nap, I awoke to go play with the children. It didn’t feel right to waste the
few hours that God had allowed me to be with these kids. Let me tell you, I
should have gotten up earlier!! Those kids have moved me in ways that I can’t
even express. How they have joy, happiness, and a love for life in the midst of
having no family amazes me. My family is my life and I don’t think that I would
have the same joy and laughter that every single one of these kids did.
After playing a few games with the kids, I sat down in a big
circle with all of them and learned each of their names: Precious, Mercy, Madela,
Betty, Jaqueline, Antoinetta, Annrietta, Lucy, Isaac, Patience, Winnie, Sam,
Alfred, Gladys, Sandy, Elizabeth, Fancy, Harold, Patricia, Susan, Paul, Peter,
Moses, and Benedict. 30 minutes to memorize names and faces that I will never
forget!
Around 5pm, we headed to another Sacred Heart Convent
campus, which housed the girls that were on the final stage of the process.
These women, again, were absolutely lovely. The young girl that was giving us a
tour took us to the chapel and had us pick one piece of paper that was supposed
to represent the gift and fruit from the Holy Spirit. (I didn’t follow
everything she said, but it was symbolic of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
ascending on the apostles.) My gift was the Gift of Council and my fruit was
the Fruit of Modesty. Despite the fact that I didn’t really understand, it was
a very neat experience.
We next went to the Baby’s Home, which is the orphanage in
town that is for children from birth to 5 years old. I have no words to explain
the experience other than I am sitting here writing this with tears rolling
down my face. My heart breaks at the thought of it, but I am also so blessed to
have been in the presence of these children for a few short minutes. There was
a baby there that was less than a week old; her mother had died in childbirth.
She was barely bigger than my hand … Yet every single one of these beautiful
children had a smile on their face. We passed out some candy and instead of
indulging in their candy they would take it out of their mouths and offer to
share with me. Could they be any more perfect? One little girl, Gloria, didn’t
let go of me the entire time we were there. I want more than anything to go
back, pick her up, and take her home with me. I want to bring them all back
with me, from the little girl less than a week old to the boys and girls that
are in secondary school.
Mishana and I laid in bed that night just at a loss for
words … Why did we get families and not these kids? How is that we get love
from our parents each and every day when most of these kids lost their mothers
in childbirth? These kids have impacted my life more than I will ever be able
to communicate and all I know is that I can’t sit back and do nothing. God has
put a special place in my heart for orphans and adoption. I don’t know what it
will look like in my life, but I know that I will spend my life serving Him in
this area.
As I sit here thinking about how much I love these kids and
want to take care of them after only knowing them for a few short hours, I
think of the love that Christ has for me -- the love that He has for all of
these orphans in Moyo, in Uganda, in Africa, on Earth. It totally puts a new
perspective on His love when you walk away from your world of comfort and visit
those in need. I don’t want to give a lecture, but what are we doing with our
lives? If you are reading this, I challenge you to take a step back, evaluate
your heart, and look at your life. Are we sharing His love? Are we following
His commands? Are we a reflection of Him in everything that we do?
I sit here ashamed of my selfishness.
We are now back in Gulu and so
much more happened over the last few days. But nothing seems to compare to the
special experience we had with these children. The Sisters that we are spending
time with are truly angels on Earth … I am humbled to get to spend my days with
them, to learn from them, to absorb their joy, and to observe the amazing way
that God is using each and every one of them.
“Keep Changing the World” by
MIKESCHAIR just came on my playlist. It is pretty fitting to this blog, check
it out!
Current Prayer Requests:
-Mishana is getting better, but still not at 100% yet. Please keep her
recovery in your prayers!
-A willingness to be flexible and available to do whatever is asked or
needed of us.
-Energy – the time change and heat adjustment are both still taking a
toll on us.
-Sister Rosemary, all the Sisters, and the work they are doing here in
Uganda!
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