Ebb and Flow

View during dinner at the Haven

It has been way too long since I’ve last written my friends; for that I am sorry. There has been a lot going on at home that I’m not allowed to speak about so I’ve been dreading having to sit down and write. I still can’t speak about what’s going on at home, but please be praying for my family.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” –Ephesians 4:2

These past three months seem to have flown by. At the same time, so much has happened within those three months, more than what seems possible. We are now in Mzungu season here in Jinja. Teams and interns have been arriving (not only for HEAL but every other organization in Jinja as well) and there are overwhelming amounts of white people around town.

Bible study with the women in Masese 

There are a few things that I love about having people come here for the first time. First of all, they remind you of how you saw this place when you first got here. They also remind you of the good that you are doing. The longer you are here, the more darkness you see. It is easy to focus on all of the bad things that are happening, all of the people that you are failing to help, and you get more frustrated when the people you are helping fail. Unfortunately, there is only so much you can do to help here. Change is something that takes a really long time. And sometimes, even in really bad situations, there is nothing that you can do, simply due to lack of resources. It’s easy to let this burden you and drag you down. New eyes help you see past this, help you see that you are making a difference and that what you are doing needs to continue being done.

Masese

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. “ –Romans 5:2-5

A lot of people say that short-term mission work causes more harm than it does good. I agree that there are certain trips like this, where people are more interested in getting pictures with the local people to make their profile pictures rather than really pouring into the people they are supposed to be serving; but I do think that a lot of good comes from short-term mission with people who have right hearts about it. Short-term missions allow people to see a glimpse of life that is different from their own. It gives people a broader view of the world that God created. It allows God to work in people’s hearts and opens doors of people committing to serving longer term. I think that I was a bit of rare case. I felt God’s call and committed to a year serving people I had never met in a country and on a continent that I had never been to before. I feel like it is much more common for someone to go on a short-term mission trip and then feel the calling to be there longer.

Preschool and English children praying during Bible study

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” – Galatians 5:13

People on short-term mission trips bring a new sense of energy with them. Yes, they are at first tired from jet lag, but after a few days they get past this. They are here and ready to pour themselves into the ministry and the people we are serving. They are generally willing to help in any way needed. They are getting to experience so many new things for the first time. Things that sometimes being here you take for granted. They help you realize that sometimes you need to check your heart, to make sure that you are focused on what is most important and not get sidetracked. Jesus is the reason we are here. And yes, people will fail you and you will fail them, but we can’t give up on each other because Jesus never gave up on us. He took on flesh and lived a life we couldn’t live. He died a death that he didn’t deserve. He conquered death and rose from the grave. He gave us new life. He dwells in us. We are the righteousness of God. We are His light here on this earth and it is our duty to share that light and His love with others.

"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." – John 1:5

Saying goodbye to Heather at the airport

A week ago, I took my roommate, Heather, to the airport. On the way, her father got a new heart that he desperately needed. The operation was expected to be 5 to 7 hours. Chuck had a new heart in only 4. He was out of surgery before she got on the plane.  He is recovering extremely quickly. Earlier in the week, he was put in the step-down unit. He is a living example of prayer being answered and many of the doctors and nurses attribute how well he’s doing to God. They believe that tomorrow already he will be discharged from the hospital. How crazy is it that a person can have a heart transplant and in a week be discharged from the hospital? Only God. Please keep Chuck in your prayers as he is adjusting to the anti-rejection medication and is still in quite a bit of pain. Please also keep Heather and her mom, Marlene, in your prayers as they help take care of him. Heather has about a month and a half at home before she comes back and joins me again in Jinja.

“LORD, my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” – Psalm 30:2

This coming week, I will also have to say goodbye to the 4 yearlong interns that have been here. I have gotten to spend the last 6 months with them. I have come to consider these young women a part of my family. I love them dearly. It has been a true blessing to get to know them and I will miss them immensely. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to go home. I have been in their shoes before. It is not easy leaving a place that has been your home for the past year, a place that steals your heart. Please pray for peace, comfort, and discernment as they go home and figure out what God has in store for them next. Please keep the staff, women, and children at the James Place in prayer as well as they prepare to no longer have these beautiful people in their daily lives. Goodbyes are always hard. But there is beauty in knowing that even if we never see each other again here on this earth, we will one day be reunited in Heaven where we can worship our God together for all eternity.

During our 3 day retreat together

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and crying will be heart in it no more.” – Isaiah 65:17-19

Sunset one night while driving home 

God bless you all.