Worth the Cost

I was in Africa for 4 months, and I absolutely loved my experiences there. I had many opportunities to bring the love of Jesus to others, which is the deep passion of my heart. Nothing brings me more joy and satisfaction than reaching out to the lonely, rejected, burdened, depressed, hopeless, abandoned, sick, and dying people of Africa-especially the children. I do not consider my move to Africa to be a loss at all; instead I see it as an opportunity to gain more than I could ever have imagined. I don't see this change in my life to be a sacrifice; instead, I see it as an honor. I willingly sacrifice my comforts and desires that I might bring more comfort, life and hope to others. I am very thankful to God that I have been given the opportunity not only to live my childhood dream, but also to give children the opportunity to dream.

Every moment that I have spent in Africa and haven't spent in America has been completely worth it. Every sacrifice that I have made to live in Africa has been worth the cost. I have found that if I can make one child smile or laugh, my own heart smiles and sings. If I can hold one child for a few moments and make him or her feel safe and loved, it makes every moment that I have been away from my loved ones in America worthwhile. If I can comfort one child that is hurting and wipe his or her tears away, it is worth every comfort that I have left in America to devote my life to ministry in Africa. If I can give even one homeless child a loving home, it is worth leaving my home in America to find a new home in Africa. If I can bring even one thirsty or dehydrated child a drink of water, it is worth every day that I have to walk to the well and carry a heavy water jug instead of getting water from an American sink. If I can give food to one hungry or starving child, it is worth eating various new foods that I have never eaten before or missing foods that I have always eaten in America. If I can help one abandoned child learn to read or receive an education, it is worth abandoning my teaching career in America and pursuing a new career of service in Africa.

I pray that I will make a tremendous difference in Uganda. I know that the Lord is faithful and that he can help me to produce changes in this nation. I am very eager to continue in the work that God has planned for me. I will be returning to the US for a few months in October, but then I will be returning to Uganda in January. It is my heart's desire to see the dream that God has given me about constructing a children's home be fulfilled, and I pray that it will happen soon because I see so many orphans around me. It breaks my heart to see the deep need that exists here in the village where I am staying, but I know that I can make an impact on these children as I continue to pursue all that God has laid on my heart and reach out to them with the love of the Heavenly father.

It is my prayer that I will soon bring some of these children under my arms and carry them home. I strongly believe and stand firmly in faith that this will come to pass because I serve an awesome God-a God in which nothing is impossible. The bigger the need is-the bigger the miracle!

Called to Love

As I have spent the last four months in Africa, I have realized more than anything that I am called to love. It is my desire to bring hope to the hopeless, rescue the abandoned, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, offer water to the thirsty, and bring education to the illiterate. Yet, I have found that the most important gift that I have to offer the world is love. I have found that our actions make the greatest impact only when they are compelled by a sincere love from deep inside the heart. It may appear easy to drop a coin to a homeless child sitting on the street in a pile of urine, but a deep love and compassion for that child may compel you to hold the child on your lap and pray for him. It may seem easy to toss a coin to a beggar on the street, but true love for that woman may require you to stop and greet her-to take her hand in your hand and look her in the eye-to speak kind words to her and tell her that Jesus loves her. Having a compassionate heart for the hurting may involve experiencing pain in your own heart as you empathize with those less fortunate than yourself. True love will require time and sacrifice, but it will always prove to be worthwhile. It may look different everyday, but it will always be driven by sincere compassion. As Mother Theresa quoted, "It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters."It is my desire to carry more love every day. As I reach out to others, I don't want them to just receive something of monetary value. I want them to receive something of eternal value-the love of Christ.
I will share more about my experiences. I am returning to the US tomorrow; therefore, I will have easy access to the computer and internet.
I pray God's blessings on each one of you. Thank you for your love and support.