Well, I’ve already killed two cockroaches today; one in the kitchen while doing dishes & one inside my bug net. I currently have a baby lizard staring at me from the ceiling as a write this and the sound of crickets, bats and a dozen different birds outside my window drown out the music I have playing in my ear buds. No matter how hard I scrub I can’t get the dirt off my feet and these dang ant bites are driving me nuts but as I sit here I just soak it all in feeling thankful … I sit here thinking how this seems so ‘normal’ to me and lizards in my room are actually a luxury because they eat all the other bugs.
I only have three days left in this beautiful country and my heart once again feels torn into a ton of tiny little pieces. The Lord has done SO much through our team in just two short weeks and I refuse to let my broken heart keep me from enjoying those wonderful moments.
This post is me remembering things the Lord has done here, remembering that He is constant and forever with those I so dearly love. Walk with me as I highlight a few of my favorite moments during this trip in Uganda (in no particular order).
#1. Easter in the village.
The Easter party we held for the children in our SayNoToHunger Program ranks pretty high on my list of favorites. We brought the kids from all four villages –Bakka, Kaliti, Kitooke, Nkoowe – to the church in Kitooke and celebrated Easter with them. We showed a movie (which is a very special treat to the village children) about Jesus which walked them through his life here on earth. We worshipped together, we prayed together, and praised Jesus at the top of our lungs!! The highlight though, the fact that I was able to preach to them about Jesus and even saw eight or so kiddos say ‘yes’ to Jesus for the first time! (Including the boy my parents sponsor.) So there’s my #1, preaching the gospel to over 250 village children.
I only have three days left in this beautiful country and my heart once again feels torn into a ton of tiny little pieces. The Lord has done SO much through our team in just two short weeks and I refuse to let my broken heart keep me from enjoying those wonderful moments.
This post is me remembering things the Lord has done here, remembering that He is constant and forever with those I so dearly love. Walk with me as I highlight a few of my favorite moments during this trip in Uganda (in no particular order).
#1. Easter in the village.
The Easter party we held for the children in our SayNoToHunger Program ranks pretty high on my list of favorites. We brought the kids from all four villages –Bakka, Kaliti, Kitooke, Nkoowe – to the church in Kitooke and celebrated Easter with them. We showed a movie (which is a very special treat to the village children) about Jesus which walked them through his life here on earth. We worshipped together, we prayed together, and praised Jesus at the top of our lungs!! The highlight though, the fact that I was able to preach to them about Jesus and even saw eight or so kiddos say ‘yes’ to Jesus for the first time! (Including the boy my parents sponsor.) So there’s my #1, preaching the gospel to over 250 village children.
#2. Bakka
Many of you who followed along on my first journey to Uganda probably remember me talking about Bakka – my favorite village here in Uganda. Going back into Bakka and hearing the children scream my name as I waved at them through the van windows brought tears to my eyes. Seeing Baby Gabriel and his family again was such a great reunion. Teaching the street children about Jesus and watching them pray for each other leaves me speechless every time. Nothing beats the crowd of screaming children sprinting behind the van as we pull into the village telling their friends the “mzungos” are here. My heart is overflowing every time I leave Bakka.
Many of you who followed along on my first journey to Uganda probably remember me talking about Bakka – my favorite village here in Uganda. Going back into Bakka and hearing the children scream my name as I waved at them through the van windows brought tears to my eyes. Seeing Baby Gabriel and his family again was such a great reunion. Teaching the street children about Jesus and watching them pray for each other leaves me speechless every time. Nothing beats the crowd of screaming children sprinting behind the van as we pull into the village telling their friends the “mzungos” are here. My heart is overflowing every time I leave Bakka.
#3. Fashion & Compassion.
Last year I was connected with this incredible ministry and continued to stay in contact with them as I made my second trip back. During our first week here, my team and I ventured to the slums Kampala to visit the dear ladies of F&C. They welcomed us with many songs of praise and treated us like royalty as we sat in their new office. As we sat there hearing their testimonies, reading scripture with them and praying for them the presence of Jesus was so heavy in that place I cannot even explain it. Many of us on the team were in tears as we worshipped with them through song and prayer. God has already fulfilled so many promises for them and we called out even more of those promises for them while we were there. The looks on their faces as we left were priceless.
Last year I was connected with this incredible ministry and continued to stay in contact with them as I made my second trip back. During our first week here, my team and I ventured to the slums Kampala to visit the dear ladies of F&C. They welcomed us with many songs of praise and treated us like royalty as we sat in their new office. As we sat there hearing their testimonies, reading scripture with them and praying for them the presence of Jesus was so heavy in that place I cannot even explain it. Many of us on the team were in tears as we worshipped with them through song and prayer. God has already fulfilled so many promises for them and we called out even more of those promises for them while we were there. The looks on their faces as we left were priceless.
#4. Wakiso market and clinic.
Show Mercy International does outreach in Wakiso twice a week in both the market and the clinic. I have many, many friends at the market in Wakiso and hearing how the Lord has worked in their life over the last year is amazing. A woman who once feared her husband would find out she was a born-again Christian is now attending church regularly, has told her husband about Jesus and her husband has now started reading the bible we gifted her. Spontaneous worship sessions in the clinic that sparked words of knowledge, prophetic prayer and healing were definitely a highlight as well.
I just wish I could bring you all here to experience this for yourself; there is SO much to be seen! As hard as I try, I cannot adequately describe the beauty of this place and the love I have for the people here. Long term ministry is still heavy on my heart and my love for Uganda has grown ever deeper with each outreach. I know the Lord is doing a work in my heart and I trust Him in this process.
As always, thank you for following me on my journey and supporting my trips to Uganda. You all are such a blessing and you have no idea how often I pray for all of you; don’t discredit your significance.
Because Jesus cares,
Nakalema.
Show Mercy International does outreach in Wakiso twice a week in both the market and the clinic. I have many, many friends at the market in Wakiso and hearing how the Lord has worked in their life over the last year is amazing. A woman who once feared her husband would find out she was a born-again Christian is now attending church regularly, has told her husband about Jesus and her husband has now started reading the bible we gifted her. Spontaneous worship sessions in the clinic that sparked words of knowledge, prophetic prayer and healing were definitely a highlight as well.
I just wish I could bring you all here to experience this for yourself; there is SO much to be seen! As hard as I try, I cannot adequately describe the beauty of this place and the love I have for the people here. Long term ministry is still heavy on my heart and my love for Uganda has grown ever deeper with each outreach. I know the Lord is doing a work in my heart and I trust Him in this process.
As always, thank you for following me on my journey and supporting my trips to Uganda. You all are such a blessing and you have no idea how often I pray for all of you; don’t discredit your significance.
Because Jesus cares,
Nakalema.