Since I posted last night, SO much has happened! I know i've been posting almost everyday, but Uganda is constantly surprising me! Today I was reminded, of just how fortunate we all are. We have homes, kitchens, food, clean water, money, clothes, medicine... we have SO much. But until today, i didn't realize how ungrateful I had been for it all.
This morning, we were going over the price for the uniforms, which is actually double what we thought it would be. However, we ARE going to provide all of those students with a uniform. God will provide, as always. I was kind of discouraged by the fact that the price was so much higher than we had been told, but we do have enough.
After Kelsey and I finished our last class, we were relaxing in the office waiting for lunch, when Christine, a teacher at the school, asked us to help her escort the younger children home (the nursery children leave before lunch). So, Kelsey and I agreed to come with her. We had NO idea what we were about to see.
First of all, many of these children walk for MILES just to come to school. As Christine led us up and down the red dirt streets, i was heart broken by some of the things I saw. Families living in houses the size of a typical american pantry, children running in the streets(some not fully clothed), sick parents, and some of those parents are home alone with 2 or 3 sick children as well. Kelsey and I were introduced to a mother caring for her son, who had fallen ill with Malaria (VERY serious disease, for those of you who don't know). Not only was she caring for her son, but she has 3 other children that she is currently putting through school (i saw no father, which is not uncommon in Uganda). As we walked upto her home, she was giving her son a bath, in what seemed like water, also with some kind of green leaves (For the record, i have absolutely no idea what was in that water). Christine asked me to take a picture of the mother and her son, so the mother quickly dressed her son, who was still covered in the green leaves, and I took the picture. And before we turned to leave, i went to the mother, and said "I pray that your son is healed, soon." She smiled, thanked us for blessing her home, and we left.
As we were walking down the street, I asked Christine how many children in that are were sick. She said that there were about 15 children who were currently ill... and all of them, with Malaria.
My heart is still breaking. I can't get those images out of my head. Children on the side of the road, alone. Girls in uniforms, walking with big jugs of water (for their school). Mothers caring for their sick children, while they are probably sick themselves!!! This is so hard for me to write about, and i'm crying right now. But, I guess you could say that's how i know this is real. And one thing that makes me cheer up a little (and hopefully it'll brighten your day), is that even through sickness, and poverty, and not knowing where their next meal is coming from (if they even have one)... these people have HOPE! And let me tell you, these people know hope. They LIVE, and BREATHE, and fight to make it through the day, because of HOPE. And it's the best kind of hope. It's hope, in Jesus. They have hope, and FAITH, that he will provide, and he will heal, and he will deliver them from their pain and suffering. And you know why they have so much hope and faith? Because the hope and faith that they have in our God, is the only thing they have!
I'm sitting here now, writing this. And i'm reminded of how blessed I am. When i come home everyday, i know that i'll have food to eat for dinner. I know, that i'll be able to shower, and sleep in a nice warm bed. I know, that i'll be able to have clean, cold water to drink. But you know what... the people I met today, can't always say that. When I go home after these last 5 1/2 weeks end, I'll be coming home to Thanksgiving. And let me tell you, I now know how much I really have to be THANKFUL for. Clothes, food, a house, a bed, clean water, medicine, cars, air conditioning... But let me tell you this. I'm also going to come back with a deaper understanding of how these people live. I thought i knew how they lived, because i had some memories of my last trip. But God brought me here again, to open my eyes, to what is really happening outside my own little world. And to be honest... the view from outside my little world... is amazing me more and more everyday. Sometimes, you have to have heart break, to have your eyes opened.
I never want to close my eyes again.
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