Look what I found on Friday night!! My very first one the whooooole trip!!
Saturday, Josephine wanted to take me to their "Disney World". I was very interested to see this amusement park so tonight we went...It is owned truly by Disney but is called Wonder World. They have a few water slides, the octopus, a kiddie roller coaster, pirate ship, and a few more rides. It looks similar to our state fairs but smaller still.The first thing we did was to visit the arcade and Josephine drover her very first "car". It was hilarious...she bumped into quite a few things...haha...She said she needs more practice before she tries to drive for real.
The second thing she wanted to conquer was The Pirate Ship. She had ridden this once before and was T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D. Here is a picture of us as we got on the ride...
Ohhhh how I wish I could post videos of this because I did video Josephine during the ride. She was yelling out, closing her eyes, and calling on Jesus. She was hilarious...I am so glad I could be a part of this today.Today was Sunday, and Josephine came to pick me up for another lovely service at her church. After, we went to Ggaba Beach and had a nice lunch out by Lake Victoria. She wanted me to try their "fish and chips" before I left....now their fish is a little bit different than I'm used to...but I braved it and ate. Here is a photo to help you imagine...
Well enough of my fun days, I do have some stuff that I feel God has laid on my heart as my last weekend in Africa. I have learned so much from the people here and the people from other countries I've met. Since the beginning of the time with Blessed Hope, I have wanted to keep the experience alive when I return to the States. I don't want to take for granted what the children have taught me...their true, emotional worship. They seek God, call on Him, and truly trust Him for each and every need. Do I live like that? Do I trust God for what I need or for the future...or do I try to take care of things on my own? I know the answer I'd like to have but don't really...I had hoped this trip would slow me down and truly open my eyes.
I have been reading the book "The Shack" (yes I am behind on up-to-date books), but I truly think it could not have come at a more opportune time. I won't ruin the book if you haven't read it...but it just sheds such a different light on the way I view God. It is hard for me to treat Him as a tangible "papa" as the character of the book calls Him. In one part of the book, the character is talking to God about his family when he realizes ohhh you already know all this God...God quickly informs him that when He is listening to our prayers He does not think about what He is Almighty knows but just truly listens...much like when you speak with a child you bring yourself to a child's level. God truly wants us to talk to Him daily about anything and everything.
Their was a large group that stayed at the Adonai house last night, and I was fortunate enough to be invited to their worship and share time. One of the men shared about how as the team got ready to leave...most people want to pray "Please Lord don't let me forget this trip and all that I have learned and how my heart has been changed..." when really, we should not treat this as a beginning and end of a trip but rather just part of our journey. We pray that our heart should be ready for these trips...but just the same we should pray for our hearts as we return. He shared about the parable of the sower: the first seed was eaten by the birds, the second seed was planted on rocky soil and had no roots, the fourth seed was on good soil and grew, but the third seed was most like our hearts now...a seed that was sewn among weeds and thorns. The weeds and thorns are compared later in the parable to the worries of this life and deceitfulness of wealth. I hope to take this lesson to heart as I prepare to return home.
I know that I will never forget the new friends I made on my Sweet Sleep team or the opportunities I was given in Kampala. I know the sweet joyful faces of the children will not leave my memory anytime soon...but I hope that I am constantly reminded of the true worship that I found here. I hope to start my weeks and days with looking for opportunities in Nashville to serve Jesus and not go back to may ways of selfishness which I know will be far too easy for me. Anytime you remember...pray for Africa and Uganda, that the people will continue to see God's presence and build hope in their lives. Pray for the children at these sweet orphanages as they learn great things...and specifically for after their school years when life becomes even harder for many as they are faced with where to go and what to do.
Matthew 12:34b "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." My question to myself is, "What am I filling my heart with daily?" I know from heart flows my words and comes my actions, and I hope that they will become pleasing to God.
