One month has now passed since I stepped off the plane in my new home-Uganda. I have had quite an eventful month as I seek to learn more about the culture and people and see Uganda through the eyes of Jesus.
The main focus of my time has been on learning the language and learning what it is like to be an African woman. I have continued to practice preparing food and cooking on a charcoal stove, as well as doing the regular African chores such as washing my clothes by hand. My weak muscles are being stretched, but are growing stronger every day. This is definitely a time of growth and new discoveries for me. I always say that the more time I spend in Africa-the more that I find I still have so much to learn about Africa. It is definitely an exciting adventure learning to live in and adjust to a new culture. I praise God that he continues to help me and give me favor with the Ugandan people. I am very thankful for the love for the Ugandan people that God has placed in my heart. I truly do feel connected with them in a number of ways.
I have always felt that integrating myself into the culture is a very important component of my ministry. I believe that I must seek to relate in some small way to the lifestyle of the African people in order to display the true love and compassion of Jesus for these people. I wholeheartedly agree with Paul when he spoke in I Corinthians 9:9:19-23 about becoming all things to all men so that he might save some.
In the same way, before Jesus saved the world, he came down to this earth and lived and walked among us. Though he was God, he came down and subjected himself to the constraints of humanity. He faced the challenges, emotions, and experiences that accompany living in this fallen world. He would not have had to experience all of this, but he made the choice to become like one of us. As a result, he can now sympathize with our pain and suffering, and his example gives us courage to overcome the challenges we face. I love the passage in Hebrews 4:14-16 that talks about us having a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses.
It is very difficult to bridge the gap between a muzungu (white person) and an African. Many of the Africans already have preconceived ideas about bazungu (white people), and of course, there is always the obvious color difference. (I always stick out wherever I go.) Nevertheless, I believe that God can help me bridge the gap that is there. I believe that God can continue to help me to understand and relate to the people, but I also believe that I need to be responsible to do my part. I believe that this process of integrating myself into the culture encompasses sharing in some of the activities and responsibilities of the African people. As I continue to be taught how to cook food by my African woman mentor, I learn more about the culture and people because we talk as we prepare food. As I share in the cooking and cleaning responsibilities, I learn more about the workload of most African women. As I seek to learn the language, I connect with the people in a personal way and show them that I care about them and their culture.
In addition, I have had opportunities in the last month to do what I love most when I am in Africa-show the love and compassion of Jesus to others. I have been able to reach out in love to those who are hurting and living in despair. I have had the opportunity to hold suffering children in my arms and embrace them with the unconditional love of Jesus. I have been given the honor of being Jesus’ feet and hands so that others may know there is a Father in Heaven who sees the needs of his children and cares desperately for them.
I will quickly share one of these divine appointments with you. One day as I was walking along the streets of Kampala I found a woman and her baby lying on the side of the street. I stopped the moment I saw them and knelt beside them. I began to greet them with the typical Lugandan words, and then I asked the woman if her child was sick. She told me they were both very sick, but had no money to go for treatment. She told me they had been sitting in this same place for two days and that she had been praying that someone would come and help her and her child. Yet, no one had stopped until I came. I prayed for the woman and her child, and then I just held the child in my arms for some time. This child was so malnourished that it looked to be about 5 or 6 months old, but she was actually two years old. As I talked with the mother, I discovered that she was a twin, but her twin sister had already died. As I looked into the eyes and face of this child, my heart broke. I saw such distress and hopelessness. As I held her in my arms, I again was touched beyond words with a deep, compelling compassion to do something to rescue suffering children. I have continually made a commitment to the Lord to do all that I personally can to liberate children from pain and suffering and give them a better life. I realize that I cannot reach every child, but I know in my heart that every child I touch, every child I hold, every child I smile at, and every child I love has been given the message that someone in this world cares and loves for him or her. Sometimes I think we as people get so caught up in making a big difference that we forget how much of a difference a little difference can make. We fail to show love in the small ways because we think we don’t have the time, money, or resources to show love in the big ways. I may not be able to change the world in one day by loving one person, but I may be able to improve that one person’s day, influence his perspective, and change his life forever. I may never know the impact I have made on a person, but I do know that if I do not reach out in love to even one person I have not made an impact on anyone. One of the goals of my life is to impact as many people as I possibly can because I know that by making an impact on even one person, you have made an impact on the world. One of the philosophies I live by is to always leave a place better than I found it, and I believe that with the help of my Lord this goal can be accomplished.
