Faith

Yesterday morning we had some more Orientation at the Matoke Inn. (we also learned that Matoke means banana. So…the Banana Inn. ;) ) We walked next door a small building and saw a precious girl sitting inside. Her name is faith. She is 26 years old and originally from Kenya. She is beautiful and speaks excellent English. Her story will clutch your heart. Faith became a Christian at the young age of 8 years old. However, she first learned what it means to spend time with the Lord in college. She first came to Uganda to go to a University. It is cheaper to go to school here than in Kenya, so it is common for students do that. During this time, she discovered her father had been cheating on her mother. This hurt both Faith and her mom. After a little time, Faith’s mother became so depressed she took a can of gasoline, poured it on herself, and lit a match to her body. Faith received the tragic phone call that her mother was in the hospital with 3rd degree burns from her father while still in school. Broken hearted and not having easy access home, she began to pray fervently that the Lord would allow her to see her mother once more before she passed. Unfortunately, her mother died, and Faith’s request was not granted the she had hoped. She then had to decide between getting to bury her mother or staying at school. It is difficult for her to go home, and she cannot afford quick transportation. In order for her to go home, she would miss so much school that she would have to start the semester over. Realizing she could not afford that, Faith made the difficult decision to stay at school. Just two months after mourning the death of her mother, her father already remarried. Faith was hurt by this and still seeking the Lord’s purpose in all these trials. A few months after that, she was on a bus that got robbed. Thankfully no one was hurt, but Faith’s few personal things were taken. Broken and weary, she continued to seek the Lord. She is now doing very well, and has hopes to work with orphan children in northern Uganda. She also feels confident that these trials have been placed in her path to be used as a tool to identify with and love the children of Uganda.
Faith’s name seems quite fitting to me seeing that her life is colored with it. She has a true, honest, and pure heart for the Lord. She made a large impact on me.-SHE ended up praying for ME. My mind was blown by her love and joy. Within the few hours I got to spend with her, I truly felt as if I made a friend. We made many jokes together, and she even has a sarcastic tone to her, which I loved. She taught us so many wonderful things. But what I learned most from her was bound up in her way of life. Joy flows so naturally from her, and humility is apparent as she is oblivious to what a powerful impact she makes. I miss her already! I told her she should come home with me. With a laugh she said she’d love to, but it is not the best time.

We are finally settled at our new home, which is really quite nice. There are five single beds in one room, two showers, and two bathrooms. My shower I took last night was rather hilarious. The water trickles from a long free hand shower cord. You have to hold it up in the air by your head and let water build up. Then you squat and drop the showerhead at the same time and you get what is a “strong” trickle of water. This process then has to be repeated over and over. I could not help but laugh at myself. The accommodations are no Mississippi suburb home, but the low maintenance life is rather pleasant.
Just outside our gated walls, is a slum-like region of Kampala. We walked the streets today, and both the people and children are extremely friendly. All the children wave and smile at us. They’re faces are so bright and filled with such happiness. Sometimes it feels like we are in a parade. All eyes are on us as we pass, and the children run around yelling “Mzungoo! Mzungoo!” Which means ‘white person!’ White person! They make us laugh and anyone would want to pick them up and take them home.

We will go to Dwelling Places again on Monday and spend a longer amount of time with the children. We saw them some yesterday. They embraced us with not only open arms, but with hugs and climbing all over us. We absolutely loved it. Nothing gave me greater joy than to see them so happy. There is a great deal on my mind, but I know that no one wants to read long posts. Perhaps I’ll write some more tomorrow. I will have my first Uganda church experience and am looking forward to it. It’s getting late here, and I must go to bed. Sleeping has been a small challenge. I find myself waking up at 4 a.m. most mornings. But the early alone time is nice. Sorry for rambling on, but thank you for those of you who are caring enough to even read all these small details of this experience.
-Louise