A hand to hold

Everyday children from the community enter the gates of Jordan House, some I know their names but many of them I don’t. They come to just hang out, they come to see the muzungu’s (white man), they come because they are hungry, they come to play with their friends that live at Jordan House and sometimes they come to receive a simple hug, kiss or hand to hold.

Early this week a little boy that I had never seen before was in the compound just wondering around looking a little sad and lost. I was sitting with a group of children close by playing ‘ring-a-ring-a-rosie’ when i gestured and verbalised for him to “come” in the local way. He quickly followed my request and soon we were playing ‘ring-a-ring-a-rosie’ together. Surprisingly he wasn’t at all shy, like I thought he would be. He kept wanting more tickles, every time bursting out with a high pitched laugh that made me laugh. I would tickle him just so I could hear his adorable laugh, which he didn’t mind at all.

For the rest of the afternoon he was my friend, holding my hand everywhere I would go, often leading me to wherever HE wanted to go. At that point I didn’t care if he was the only little boy that I had became friends with my whole time here.

Later that night I thought about this little boy, who’s name I did not know and a huge smile over took my face. I was reminded who simple this little boys intentions had been. He just wanted to be with me, to take hold of my hand and simply be together. God wants to simply be with me with whatever I do. He wants us to wake up in the morning together, He wants us breathe life together, He wants us to cry together, He wants us to laugh together, He wants us to have conversations together, He wants us to go to sleep together at the end of the day. It’s so easy to try and do things on my own and not include God but He wants to lead me wherever HE wants, just like the little boy and He simply wants a hand to hold, MINE!

It hurts

Today Will and I meet a lady at Entebbe airport. As we were waiting for her my eyes welled up with tears as I watched families greet each other, some were even crying themselves as they hugged their loved ones. I so wished that was me, greeting my family back in Brisbane, Australia. At that moment I would have given anything to jump on the next flight back to Australia. 

But I had to really ask myself the question, if I was really given the choose, would I? The answer was easy, no! It hurts so bad sometimes being away from family, especially when I don’t know exactly why I am here but at the same time that’s why I couldn’t jump on the next plane. I wouldn’t change this point of my life for anything! It’s hard waiting for clear direction from God but following God isn’t easy, sometimes it hurts so bad. But I know that God has my best interests in mind, He would never leave me, He is my comfort, He is my provision, He is my guidance, He is the reason at 11 years old He placed Africa not just on but in my hear,t I have to continue to push on and be lead by his voice. 

Challenged

Everyday here in Uganda I see beggars of all ages; men, women and children. It breaks my heart, especially to see children begging. These children deserve the chance to be a child, to play, to laugh, to dance, to learn, to have an education and to be loved. Many times children are taken from villages or sold by their parents to men that than bring them to the city to ‘earn’ money, only to give the money they ‘earned’ to their boss. Men and women with deformities, disabled or without limbs deserve some dignity.

Everyone here says not to give money to beggars, as money doesn’t fix anything. It’s true money doesn’t fix the self-mutalation, the child slavery, the drunkness that thrives amongst some of the beggars. Living here I have somewhat come accustomed to their way of life and accepted it. Sometimes I get so angry when I know and can see it’s all an act. 

But I was extremely challenged this week when I was having time with God.

Acts 3:2-7

‘Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put everyday to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 

Everyday people walked straight past the crippled man on their way to worship God. Some may have given him money but many may have just walked straight past without even an acknowledgement. The thing that God challenged me with the most with was the fact that the people where on their way to worship God, but couldn’t even stop for broken. 

God challenged me to be Peter and John, to take hold of the precious gift Jesus left behind, the Holy Spirit and simply pray with the lost, the broken, the unloved. When doing home visits in the slums I sit and pray with Mama’s and their children. Why not sit and pray with the beggars? How can I say that I love Jesus, if I simply walk by!