On another note...while the graduation celebration was happening, I found this little street boy outside the church gates. He was begging for something, so I invited him in, gave him water and a meal. Some of the church members invited him to come back and enjoy the swing set in the back. His name is Adam and he ran away from his mother and traveled about eight hours away to Kampala. Will you join me in prayer that he will be reunited with his mother and find believers that will teach him about Jesus?
The graduation celebration started as the Wakiso celebration ended. Many friends and family came with hearts filled with joy and gifts for the graduate. We were especially blessed to have his mother, grandmother, four brothers, one sister and many other family members present. There was strengthened and rekindled relationships and a memory that will never be lost. His very gracious and grateful mother blessed me with a gift. She and I and Michael met on our knees in Ugandan respect for the exchange. A very precious moment.
The three of us cut the vanilla chocolate and cinnamon cake, and served the guests. Nine other graduates from the church were also honored. Michael addressed the attendees on his knees in gratitude for their support and especially the Lord who has always been there for him. I never could have imagined that this day could be so wonderful. How can I ever thank God enough?
Today is bitter sweet. I woke up at the crack of dawn hearing the roosters crow and the hotel workers sweeping, sweeping, sweeping the the parking lot. The brooms are thin and about 3 feet long...made of grass. The lawn mowing people swipe their slashers back and forth. The smell of wood and coal smoke in the air as our Spanish omelettes are prepare... Mmmm, there is nothing like the thirst quenching taste of fresh passion fruit juice and the ensuing heartburn.
As we sit down to pray, we think of all the wonderful days we have had, yet mourn the fact that our dear friend Isaac is sick in the hospital with malaria. We also hear of the continued spread of Ebola around the world. Bill's next journey to Zimbabwe is in question by his teammates, yet seeing the power of God, he fearlessly presses on with his plans. Would I stay longer in Uganda despite all of the health and terrorism? You bet!!! Once I am here, the threats somehow disappear. The blessings of doing the Lord's work is what fills our minds.
Even the Ugandans ... As Bill and I respond to loved ones that we are fine, one pokes me while riding in the Chariot on the way to Wakiso to make sure I have had a fresh pineapple on this trip ... despite all of the worries in the world, they keep on moving, praising the Lord and doing his work. How would I not want to be part of what they are doing for the Lord.
I remember Bill's daily prayer, Lord help me to want what you want, not what I want....and their is deep meaning behind it.
When we first arrived, we were exhausted ... 2 more days to go and our cups overflow.
Wow ... what just happened? As we drive down the dirt road, two tiny children see Bill and holler, "hey mazungu, give me some bread!" For as many times as I have been down this path, they have never asked for bread, but today, they do. Guess what we have in the chariot and have never brought before? Bread! How can I explain the love of the Lord?!!!
Blaza Blaza is so happy he can hardly focus. In the photo he is opening a gift including a new shirt and tie. It was so precious to see him ask Bill to teach him how to tie the knot. Bill graciously and fatherly showed him how, but I think he was so happy in the moment that he will need the lesson again...
October 17, 2014 marks a day of great happiness, pride, and a new Christian graduate of Business Administration Management. After 6 years at Ndejje Christian University, the fastest growing university in Uganda, Michael met his goal. His mother, surrogate second mother (myself) and his surrogate father Isaac Sanyu woke at 4:00am to make it for the 9:00am program. At least a thousand received graduate status six and a half hours later. There could be only one other time he was this happy...when he was gifted a used IPOD... To God be the glory for all of His provisions.
Wednesday was a fun day to relax while the workers in Wakiso finished with building a brick platform for the tank. So, we took a short road trip to the Nile.
On a side note, Mr. Mbaziira is always great at spotting God's blessings. Once it was decided brick was needed, a truck was sent to go to the city to find it. Just as they were leaving our area, another truck full of brick being taken to the city drove by. They bought it and made the trip a very efficient one.
The video shows literally the source of the Nile in Jinga Uganda. To the right of the shiny flat water is Lake Victoria which flows south and to the right, the Nile flowing north. It takes the water from the source 3 months to reach the Mediterranean.
The purifier installation in Wakiso will take 2 days before training can begin...although the team is also learning on the go. When we arrived the first time in Wakiso, 43 CRF sponsored orphans were learning in the new and freshly painted classrooms. Sure enough, when we arrived, class was finished... I hugged every single child as they stood in line to receive my love and all of yours that you sent with me. It was so overwhelming to see and touch them, to see the progress on making the old house a place to gain knowledge and learn about God... I needed a walk out into the garden to cry to God thanking Him for this experience. In addition to the school on the one acre property, they have planted a very large garden of corn, peanuts and potatoes to feed the children.After a bountiful plate of Ugandan traditional food, we played and played and played...as Bill worked on the water. It was wonderful to see him take a break and play the drums with the children and play frisbee... You should see how cute these kids are running around in oversized purple school uniforms!!!
