Life's Little Lessons and God's Awesome Way of Teaching Them

God has really been working on my heart lately and teaching me things that I know are necessary for my future. I'm so grateful to be learning these things now instead of years down the road. I love the way He's been revealing these lessons to me.

When I got back from Uganda this summer, one of the most common questions people asked me was, "Well now what?" To be honest with you I just wanted to yell at these people and say, "I just got back. You really think I know what I'm doing now. I'm still trying to process what just happened." Instead, I responded with, "I'm not too sure as of right now. Maybe nursing school." With no real intentions of going to nursing school. It was more of an excuse so people would be happy with the fact that I really am considering my future.

After hearing that question more times than I cared to, I started really taking it into consideration. I began asking myself and God, what now? Well, I could actually look into nursing school, realizing it would be very beneficial for my return to Uganda. I could apply for a long term internship in Uganda with organizations that I've grown to respect over the years. I could travel to Nepal with a buddy of mine and explore the possibilities of missions in other countries. And everytime I convinced myself that one of these would be an alright idea, I would suggest it to God, knowing that it really wasn't what he wanted for me, but still trying to make progress anyway.

At this point, I was sick of waiting for God to suggest something to me. According to my time clock, he was way past due and I was starting to get agitated.

Then I picked up a handy dandy devotional about women in the Bible the first woman I read about was Sarah. Her story humbled me.

Sarah waited NINETY years to have children! Can you imagine being told that you would give birth to a nation and still not see any results until you're ninety? But Sarah didn't want to wait on God so she took matters into her own hands and that's when everything went downhill.

You know, part of me doesn't blame her for doing what she did. The other part of me looks at her and thinks, how stupid, clearly God is faithful and will follow through on his promises. And yet, the other part of me is grateful for what she did and the example she is to me. God used her story, one that happened thousands of years ago, to impact me. How awesome is that?

And God didn't just remind me of it once. About a week later, I was driving to work, listening to K-Love (which I honestly don't listen to often) and guess who they were talking about? You guessed it, Sarah. One thing that was said about Sarah's story was, "When we take matters into our own hands, not trusting in God, we often end up with much more problems and grief." That hit hard.

God was slowly breaking down the walls I put up. Walls of control and an I can do it myself attitude. Walls that said, I don't need God. Walls that were clearly put up with the help of Satan. And God was knocking them down.

A few weeks later, I received an email with Psalm 37:7 on it. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Another reminder. I chuckled when I read this because I just find God so clever. He blows me away, but he was finished there. Two days later, I was on my way to work again, listening to K-Love again (once again, something I don't do often), and they read, Psalm 37:7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. WOW!

Alright God, I get it. But if you want to keep blowing me away with little reminders, I'm more than ok with that.

Time to be patient and wait. ~ Time to pray and listen. ~ Time to seek after you. ~ Time to put aside my selfish ways. ~ Time to follow your will for my life. ~ Time to surrender total control.

Imagine

Imagine walking as your main/only form of transportation.

Imagine not owning a pair of shoes to protect your feet from disease and sores.

Imagine having only $.25-$1.00 as your savings.

Imagine walking miles barefoot for clean water.

Imagine not having clean water.

Imagine you and six or seven others living in area equal to or smaller than your master bathroom.

Imagine sleeping on the hard dirt floor where cockroaches, geckos, rats, and mosquitoes have easy access to you.

Imagine water dripping on you while you sleep because you don’t have enough money to repair your roof.

Imagine not eating for days and days on end.

Imagine digging through trash piles to find any source of food so you won’t starve.

Imagine washing all your dishes and clothes by hand.

Imagine everything you own can be carried with your own two hands.

Imagine your nine years old, both your parents died due to HIV/AIDS, and now it’s your responsibility to take care of your younger siblings.

Imagine not being able to read or write because your parents couldn’t afford an education.

Imagine having five to ten kids and no way of supporting them besides prostituting yourself .

Imagine when you get a severe cut or burn, your last option is to go to the hospital and the only way of “protecting” it is by caking manure, dirt or charcoal on it in hopes that it will heal.

NOW…

Imagine having a car or two or three sitting in your driveway.

Imagine owning five, ten, fifteen, or maybe even thirty pairs of shoes to go with any outfit you can think of.

Imagine having thousands of dollars in your checking and savings account plus extra cash to splurge with on the side.

Imagine having three or four faucets within fifty feet of you.

Imagine turning on a faucet with as much clean water flowing out of it as you want.

Imagine two to four other people living in a two thousand square foot house with three bedrooms and four bathrooms.

Imagine sleeping in a queen size bed with a down comforter and a feather pillow.

Imagine sleeping sound throughout the night with no disturbances and a heater to keep you as warm as you want.

Imagine eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner with delicious desserts afterwards and snacks whenever you feel like it.

Imagine going to a grocery store where any food you ever wanted was right at your finger tips.

Imagine having a dishwasher and washing machine and dryer that you simply have to load, add soap, and push a button, then an hour or so later everything is clean.

Imagine what you can carry in your own two hands equals about one twentieth of what you own.

Imagine growing up with both parents taking care of you and your siblings until you move out of the house.

Imagine going to school every year from the ages five to twenty-two (or longer) learning reading, writing, arithmetic and what ever else you may want to specialize in.

Imagine owning your own business, being a teacher, a doctor, or a manager of a company which all usually come with benefits.

Imagine having the knowledge to fix a basic wound and if it‘s too big, the hospital is right around the corner.

Which one is easier for you to imagine?

Seriously after writing this, I’m disgusted with myself that I even feel I have the right to complain. My life is a hundred times better than millions around the world and yet I complain. Seriously ashamed.

Hands and Feet

Before I even step foot in Namatala, I hear the children shouting, "Mzungu! Mzungu! How are you?" The same beautiful faces come running towards me simply to hold my hand. I spread my fingers as wide as they can go allowing for as many little hands to grab on as possible. Once my hands are full, they grab for my arms; once my arms are full, they grab for my skirt. They just want to be loved. I smile at each one knowing that at this moment I'm being Jesus' hands and feet. "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew 18:5

I continue walking as the crowds of children grow larger, greeting familiar faces along the way. "How are you?" "I'm fine. How are you?" I pass by hut after hut of women washing their clothes, preparing their meals, bathing their children and sweeping their property. I think to myself, I could learn a thing or two from these women about being Jesus' hands and feet. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23

I'm on my way to visit those whom I've built such a close relationship with. My friends, Regina and Brian; Sulli, Moreen, and Loru; Margaret and friends; Agnes, and Okirori and his mom. I'm there because of their need for medical attention. I'm there to treat a sickness which has lasted for six months. I'm there to put ointment on a one year old boy waiting for his final surgery. I'm there to provide vitamins, protein and nutritional supplements to a malnourished five year old. I'm there to relieve the pain of a severe burn immobilizing and covering an entire hand. I'm there to clean and re bandage two large wounds. I'm there to serve and to be HIS hands and feet. "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

I approach the house of Regina and Brian seeing the same scene I see everyday. Regina lying on a tattered and torn bamboo mat. Hopeless. Wondering when the day will be that she gains her strength back and is able to live a normal life. Her seven year old son, Brian, greets us with a beautiful smile in his over sized t-shirt. I know behind that smile is a young boy wondering when his next meal will be, wondering when his mom will get better, wondering when his mom will start taking care of him instead of him taking care of her. I'm told that Regina has had nothing to eat or drink in days. I'm shocked. I've never once had to experience that, and to be honest, I probably never will. I supply them with a stash of protein enriched granola bars hoping it will satisfy their hunger for some time. I travel to the nearest well and pay the fifty cent fee to fill up two jerry-cans full of water hoping to hydrate Regina's frail body. I hand her some Aleve to relieve the pain, but her weakness continues. I pray over her for healing. I pray to be HIS hands and feet. "Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you.' And the woman was healed from that moment." Matthew 9:22

I'm invited into the home of Loru, Sulli and Moreen. I'm asked to put ointment on my finger and rub it into Loru's rectum. I'm not prepared for this. This is not what I signed up for. I gag a few times as I slowly push my finger in and hope it'll be over soon. Loru starts to cry. I can only imagine the pain he's in. Once I finish, the parents ask me to come back everyday to do this until his surgery. They just can't handle putting their baby through this pain. I say yes because I just want to be HIS hands and feet. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

I arrive at Margaret's ready for a couple of hours of slowly peeling charcoal off her burnt hand. She unwraps four dirty rags uncovering a fly invested, blackened hand with a smell that makes you nauseous with the tiniest whiff. As I stare at her hand in utter amazement, I'm trying to figure out why anyone would think to use charcoal as a means of healing. But I continue on. I pull out my tweezers, beginning to peel off the charcoal piece by piece, while a villager helps to keep the flies away by fanning a rag over the hand. The smell intensifies as the fanning blows it straight into my face. I pull away trying to get some fresh air. I quickly see how time consuming this will be wondering if there's a better way. I explain that I'll be back tomorrow and request boiled water to soak her hand, hoping the charcoal will easily dissolve. Unsure of how to proceed with this burn, I hand it over to God trusting he will give me guidance. I just want to be HIS hands and feet. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

As I walk from house to house, I pass by what seems like the place to be. Loud music, lots of people, and tons of chatter. I quickly realize that this is where everyone gathers to drink, smoke and play games. My heart breaks. A voice whispers to me, Share My love with them. Instead, I continue on while saying a quick prayer, "Lord be with the people here. Help them to know that what they are doing is wrong. Reveal your truth to them." Again the voice whispers, I want YOU to reveal my truth to them. I ignore it and continue walking, making excuses. They're too drunk, they won't understand. I have people I need to treat. There's always tomorrow. I pass up an opportunity to be HIS hands and feet. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" Romans 10:14.

My next stop, Agnes' house, but Agnes is nowhere to be found. We ask her neighbors if they know where she's gone. Their response, "she's out searching for food." My heart sinks. I think about the filling lunch I just had and the dinner that will be waiting for me when I arrive home. I've never had to search for food, it's always been right at my finger tips. I continue on, making a mental note: Bring food for Agnes tomorrow. I just want to be HIS hands and feet. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35

Not far from Agnes' is Okirori, a five year old boy the size of a two or three year old. I noticed him a few days ago because of his thinning hair and lack of energy. I watched him carefully, picking up on how out of breath and tired he got. I measured the circumference of his arm to determine if he was malnourished and by the results, there was no doubt he was. I decided to make a form of Plumpy-Nut for him by giving him vitamins and a mixture of peanut butter and powdered milk. I instructed him to take a spoonful of the peanut butter mixture three times a day everyday until it was gone, as well as taking one vitamin everyday. His mannerisms have changed. He is growing stronger and healthier by the day. I add in a few healthy snacks to help. His smile is bigger than ever. I know this wouldn't happen without the healing power of my Savior. I just want to be HIS hands and feet. "Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them." Matthew 15:30

I've come with bags full of clothes to pass out to those around. I enter a cluster of huts full of people belonging to the Karamajong tribe. I begin to strip the children and dress them up in a brand new outfit. They don't know how to react and look at me as though I'm insane. I can tell they've never really experienced this type of love before. Once everyone gets an outfit, I hand out a few snacks that may just be there only source of food for today. They inhale the food and ask for more. I smile knowing that this might just be a once in a lifetime experience for them, and God chose me to be a part of it. I just want to be HIS hands and feet. "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:15-16

I start heading home as the sun begins to set, re tracing my steps on the familiar path. This time though there's a crowd of children playing a form of monkey-in-the-middle. I stop and watch, intrigued by their creativity in this game. I get excited and cheer along with the rest of the kids. When the round is over, I ask if they will teach me how to play. I become the monkey-in-the-middle. The object: to turn over all the bottle caps on the ground without getting hit by the ball. They tell me when to go and I quickly turn over my first and second bottle cap while dodging the ball they are throwing at me. I succeed, but only because they went easy on me. I want to continue playing with them, but know I must get back for nighttime is quickly approaching. I'm grateful for the opportunity God gave me to play with these kids and to be HIS hands and feet. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

I'm sitting in the comfort of my own home now. My mind is consumed with thoughts of Uganda, wondering when I'll be able to see all those beautiful people again. I scan through all my pictures over and over again, smiling at the memories. Not only have they stolen a piece of my heart, but they’ve changed my way of thinking, my way of loving, my way of serving. They’ve changed me. I pray that I will never forget the names and faces of the people that have become so dear to me. I just want to be HIS hands and feet. “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you.” Philippians 1:3-4

I quickly get caught up in the American life. Three meals a day, with snacks in between. My own vehicle to get me where ever I want, whenever I want. A job that pays me more in a month than most Ugandans make in a year. High-speed internet that allows me to communicate and browse at anytime. TV with hundreds of channels so I don't get bored. A closet full of clothes where a majority of them are worn only five months out of the year, while others aren't worn at all. A washing machine and dryer to clean all my clothes, as well as, a dishwasher to wash my dishes so I don‘t have to do them by hand. And if anything is not how it should be, a big heaping of complaining goes a long with it. I still need to be HIS hands and feet. "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." Philippians 2:14-15

Christ has no body on earth but yours,

No hands but yours,

No feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which

Christ’s compassion for the world is to look out;

Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good;

And yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.

~ Saint Teresa of Avila

Ataro Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a mother to three beautiful children, Ruth, Marion, and Shadrach. Her husband is a builder and before IChooseYou Elizabeth had no way of contributing financially to her family. Now, Elizabeth is helping out by making paper beads for jewelry

Elizabeth has lived in Namatala for the past six years and before that, lived in Soroti about two hours north of Namatala. Elizabeth always dreamed of becoming a nurse and was fortunate enough to study until Senior Three (freshman in high school).

Elizabeth attended church but never placed her faith in Jesus Christ. So Taylor was able to lead Elizabeth in the sinners prayer on June twenty-fourth of this year.

Elizabeth is thankful for IChooseYou for putting her daughter Ruth through school. Pray for her husband, Paul, as he is a drunkard and abusive. Pray that Paul would come to know our Lord as his Savior.

Nangiro Betty

Betty is twenty-seven years old and has four children ages thirteen, seven, six, and two. Her and her husband both used to be street beggars hoping to collect even the littlest amount to support their family. Two months ago, Betty's house burned down. They are now renting a place in Namatala and praying to eventually buy a home in the future. 

Betty and her family have lived in Namatala for the past two years. Before moving to Namatala, they lived in a village called Moroto which is in the North. She migrated down south due to the famine and wars going on there. 

As a little girl, Betty dreamed of becoming a police woman to protect her country. She does not know how to sew but is in the process of learning how to make beads and door mats. 

Betty is incredibly grateful that her daughter is in school because of IChooseYou. She is also thankful that she is no longer an alcoholic and in bondage to the sin of drinking. Betty feels very blessed that she is bale to afford food for her family to eat.

Please pray with Betty that God will bless her with a home and that she will be a woman who can make a difference in other women's lives.

Nagawa Hilda

Hilda is a mother to four children and is taking care of two more. She is a housewife and her husband is a pastor at Budaka PC. She has lived in a place just outside of Namatala for the past three years and before that lived in a village called Namakwekwe.

Hilda is now making mats, beads, and she sews. She was able to study up to Senior 4 (sophomore in high school) and always dreamed of becoming a social worker. 

Hilda has been a believer for twenty-four years. She is thankful for the way God has kept her, for God's grace, and IChooseYou. Pray for her to have opportunities to serve, as well as job opportunities and a home of her own.

Gimbo Medina

Medina has lived in Namatala her whole life. At the age of thirteen, Medina had her first child who is now twenty years old. She is a mother to five children, her youngest being one. The father of her first three children died over ten years ago. She is now married to another man who made and sold chapati and mandazis, but can no longer work because of an accident that occurred.

Medina grew up as an orphan so her hopes of becoming anything were pretty much non-existent. Medina has become excellent at sewing and as well helps with beads and door mats. Her dream now is to become a hairstylist in order to provide for her family.

Please pray that God will provide a house of her own for her, as well as healing for her husband. She also asks that you would pray for salvation for her husband, Wilson, and her two oldest sons, Kasim and Twairu. Pray also for her third born who is in P7 (seventh grade), that she would pass her exams and move on to Secondary School and that school fees would be provided for her.

Medina is grateful to God for his faithfulness in the way he has kept her. She had lost hope for her children, but because of IChooseYou, that hope is restored, and she is grateful for the opportunity that IChooseYou has given her daughter Beatrice to go to school.

Medina told us that she now feels as though she is somebody. She is no longer an orphan but adopted into the family of Christ. Praise God for his love and grace for Medina and helping her to feel like a somebody, and a very important somebody at that!

Arinoutwe Margaret

 

Margaret holds a very special place in my heart. She is a thirty-three year old single mother to four amazing children, Paul, Mike, Florence (aka Flower), and Esther. Her youngest, Esther, has been sponsored by IChooseYou since December 2010, while her oldest three just got sponsored in June of this year.

Margaret's husband left her in April of 2006 for another woman. He used to be an elder at Mbale Presbytery Church but because he was having an affair with another woman, he was asked to step down from that position. Shortly after, he moved to the village with his new girlfriend.

Because Margaret grew up in a Catholic home, her parents hoped she would become a nun, but she dreamed of becoming a preacher. Currently, Margaret is employed at Lulwanda Children's Home as a tailor, and as well, works with IChooseYou making beads, door mats and helps with sewing.

Margaret became a Christian in 1993, and you can tell by the smile on her face and the joy in her heart, that God has completely changed her life. Margaret is a member of the Dove Choir at Mbale Presbytery Church. She is so grateful for the way God has kept her family and considers IChooseYou to be a miracle. Please pray with Margaret for a heart of love, faith and grace. Pray that her children will continue to love and serve God for the rest of their lives. Pray that her story would be a testimony to all and many would come to know Christ because of it. Also pray that she would be able to get the funds to buy a house of her own.

Namutosi Fazila

Fazila is around the age of twenty-five or twenty-six with ten children of her own, ages newborn to ten. Since her and her husband are both unemployed, it's a daily struggle to support and feed her children. Now that Fazila has been taught a new trade of bead making by IChooseYou, she is able to help provide for her family.

Fazila accepted Christ last year and is thankful to God for his faithfulness. She prays that her thought process would be changed positively because right now all she can think about is her life of misery and poverty. Pray with Fazila to be able to feed her children and eventually own a house of her own and not rent.

Kayinza Joyce

Joyce, commonly known as Jaja Faizo (grandmother to Faizo), has been living in Namatala for the past thirty years. She is currently taking care of six grandchildren ages five to thirteen. She has thirteen kids of her own, but only three are still alive today.

Jaja Faizo helps make door mats with the IChooseYou ladies, and has a business of her own selling cassava chips. As a child, she grew up wanting to become a nurse, but because her education ended at P3 (third grade), she was unable to achieve that dream.

She has been a child of God since 1990 and worships at the Mbale Presbytery Church. Please pray for God's provision in her business, as well as, the funds for a new house, because her current house is slowly collapsing. She is grateful for God's provision so far in her life and is happy to be alive.

Nambafu Margaret

Margaret is a 63 year old mother to seven children, one of them being Sarah, the first IChooseYou university graduate. Margaret has been living in Namatala since 1972, and has been making a living by selling charcoal in Namatala. Two years ago Margaret's husband died, and Sarah has been taking care of her mother ever since.

When Margaret was younger, she wanted to become a doctor, and was fortunate enough to go to nursing school. She is now the treasurer for the IChooseYou sewing ladies and also contributes to making door mats.

Margaret has been a believer since 1992. She is so grateful for the life God has given her and she prays for many more years in this world. She feels extremely blessed for her children and what God has done in her daughter Sarah's life. Continue to pray for wisdom for her and her children.

Nabidi Sarah

Sarah has been married to her husband Musa for the past nine years. Before moving to Namatala, three years ago, she lived near the Nile where her husband was a fisherman and she would help sell the fish he caught.

Because of the low value placed on woman in the villages, she grew up believing her life would amount to nothing. She was not educated and therefore pushed any dreams of wanting to become a nurse, teacher, or hair stylist away. Now, Sarah is a mother of three children and is taking care of another child. She has not yet learned how to sew but is very good at making the paper beads and doormats.

Sarah is grateful for the wisdom God has blessed her with. Please pray with Sarah for continued wisdom, as well as, protection over her children and husband.

Phone Call From Papa Loru 8/31/11

I tried my best to write out what he said. There are two parts that I really can't understand no matter how many times I listen to them. Here's what he said....

Yes hello, hello Rebecca. God bless you. I am Papa Loru. I am calling from Uganda. Loru is ok now. Loru has been operated and is now ok. He’s now ok. He can now pass through his anus. He is ok. Loru is ok. I want to greet you Becca, but I thank God and I want him to bless you. I am very happy Becca. We are very happy. Loru is now ok. He is doing well. I think you will come next year and you will see him…..Yea, I thank you for your help which you have done to David. Eh bye……We are happy for all that you did to us. God will bless all of you people. In the name of Jesus, God bless you Becca and your family. Thank you very much.

Insert Becky Ball where ever my name is because I honestly did nothing but cry when I met this little one.

Such a huge blessing to be able to hear his voice and get an update from him.

Becky, I don't think I could thank you enough for the way you provided for this family. I'm still blown away by your service to the Lord and your heart for his people. When this little boy was brought to me, my heart sank and I truly had no idea what to do. I felt hopeless and helpless, but our God provides and he uses people like you to be his hands and feet. You truly are making an impact in this family and the many other lives in Namatala. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Praise the Lord for his provision over Baby Loru before, during and after his surgery. Thank you all for your prayers, love and concern.

Akware Rose

Rose is a thirty-three year old mother to five children ages 11, 8, 6, 2, and 2 months. She moved to Namatala, from the village of Naroto, with her children four years ago, after thieves broke into her house and stole everything. She felt that Naroto was no longer a safe place because not only were there thieves but many killings were happening in the area.

Rose's husband remained in the village to look after his crops. He is currently unemployed and Rose has been finding different jobs on a daily basis to support and care for her children. When Rose was younger, she wanted to become a nurse. Now, she is making door mats and helps with the measuring for sewing.

Rose was raised Catholic and has recently accepted Christ as her Savior. She now goes to church at Mbale Presbyterian and feels blessed for the faithfulness God has shown to her and her family. Rose is also very grateful for IChooseYou sponsoring her oldest child Goret. Pray that Rose would be able to save up enough money to buy a plot for a house for her family.

Nalwanga Robina

Jaja (Grandma) Robina has been living in Namatala for the past twenty years after separating from her husband in the late 80's. She has nine children of her own and is taking care of her son's four children.

Jaja Robina grew up wanting to be a teacher, but because of lack of schooling she was not able to achieve that dream. Robina has earned money working in the fields growing crops. Because of her poor eyesight, she is not able to sew, but has learned to make the paper beads and door mats.

She is thankful that God has given her continued strength to take care of thirteen children. Please pray for healing over Robina's aching back, as well as, renewed strength in her Christian life.

Nsereko Rebecca

Rebecca is a mother and caretaker of five kids, one of them being Jonah, her brother's son, who is sponsored by IChooseYou. She had her first kid at the age of eighteen and has been providing for her family by working at her husbands shop. Rebecca has learned to sew, make paper beads, and door mats in order to continue to provide for her family.

Thirty two years ago, Rebecca became a child of God and is so very grateful for his faithfulness to her. She feels very blessed by IChooseYou for sponsoring Jonah to allow him to go to school. Please pray for her husband to return to the Lord and for him to start coming back to church and being the spiritual leader in the family. Pray as well for support and provision for the rest of her children.

Apio Grace

Grace truly lives up to her name. She is a perfect example of how the grace of God can change your life. She always greets you with a smile, open arms and the love of God pouring out of her.

You see, Grace is HIV+, a single mother to two twin boys, and taking care of her sister's four children. Her sister used to live in the north where the twenty plus year long war took place. The rebels came to her village, raped her, and killed her and her husband. Ever since, Grace has been loving her nieces and nephews with the unconditional love that she has received from her Heavenly Father.  

When Grace was four months pregnant with Jacob and Isaac, her husband decided to leave her for his other wives because she was HIV+. But, God has provided for her and protected her two boys which have tested HIV-. Praise the Lord.

Growing up, Grace dreamed of becoming a nurse, but because of her lack of education she wasn't able to fulfill that dream. Grace still wanted to help people though, especially those suffering from HIV/AIDS, so she has been volunteering at the AIDS Information Center in Mbale town to educate others about this deadly disease. Because of her volunteer position, she was not earning an income. IChooseYou has changed that. Grace is now making door mats to provide for her children. Unfortunately, her eye sight is getting worse so she is not able to sew or make beads even though she enjoys doing both.

Grace's gratefulness to the Lord is evident in her life. She praises God for the life she receives everyday even though she has HIV, and she feels extremely blessed that her boys are sponsored and loved by IChooseYou. Please pray that she will be able to save up enough money to buy a plot for her own house so that she no longer has to worry about rent.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

God's power is made perfect through Grace's weakness. Grace has and is boasting about her weaknesses so God's power can shine through to those around her.

 

What weaknesses can you boast about this weak so God's power can be made perfect through you??

Naduk Jennifer

As a little girl, Jennifer always wanted to become a soldier and fight for her country. Unfortunately, growing up as an orphan prevented her from doing so. She is now forty years old and has been caring for seven kids on her own for the past twelve years since her husband passed away. 

Jennifer is a part of the Karamajong tribe and moved to Namatala from the North thirteen years ago. Jennifer has been able to make a living for herself and her children by making paper beads and knitting table doilies, and she has shared her talent of making paper beads with the rest of the IChooseYou women. Along with making paper beads, she also helps make the door mat, and measures the fabric for sewing.

Jennifer put her trust in God in 2004 and worships at Mbale Presbyterian Church. She asks that you would pray with her for wisdom to understand God's Word and that one day she would be able to buy a place of her own instead of renting. She feels blessed that God chose her to be His child and is grateful for the many talents He has given her. She thanks God daily for Peter's sponsors and the change IChooseYou has made in his life.

Nagit Elizabeth

Elizabeth is nineteen years old and should be giving birth to her first baby anyday now. Elizabeth was married, but her husband had been treating her poorly so she left him and is now on her own.

Elizabeth's brother passed away and his wife left so she's been taking care of his three children, ages 10, 8, and 4, ever since. 

She is from the Karamajong tribe and has been living in Namatala since the age of nine. As a little girl, Elizabeth always dreamed of becoming a doctor, but due to the poor circumstances in Namatala her dream slowly disappeared. Before IChooseYou became a part of her life, she was doing anything she could to find work and was hired by day for random jobs around her area.

Elizabeth became a believer in 2007 and began attending Mbale Presbyterian Church in 2008. She is so grateful for God's provision in her life and her three children. Ever since she has been taking care of her brother's children, they have never been terribly sick and have always had food provided for them. Although none of her children are a part of IChooseYou, she is still able to make a difference in their lives by using the gifts and talents God has given to her to make beads and door mats.

Please pray that Elizabeth would deliver a beautiful and healthy baby. Pray that everything would go smoothly during delivery, and that she would be able to faithfully and lovingly take care of this baby, as well as her other three children.

Naula Annette

Annette is a mother of four children and is taking care of three others. Her husband left about four years ago and married another girl, leaving Annette to take care of seven precious children on her own. 

As a child, Annette wanted to grow up and help her parents dig in the field. Before she became an IChooseYou mom, she had no job and no way of earning income for her family. Each day she would go to the trash piles and search for food to bring home to her kids. 

IChooseYou started sponsoring her second born, Sandra, last year, and because of IChooseYou and Darby, Annette now knows how to sew as a way to support her children. Not only does Annette sew but she also helps to make paper beads and door mats.

In 2009, Annette became a child of God and asks that you would pray with her for her children to grow up as strong Christians and that her faith would be daily strengthened. Pray that God would continue to bless her, and that she would remain faithful to God and the work He has called her to.

She praises God for IChooseYou and the impact they have made in her life and her daughter, Sandra's. She is especially grateful to those who have chosen to sponsor Sandra.

IChooseYou Sewing Ladies

Last year, God sent a beautiful treasure to Uganda, in the form of Darby Burleson, to teach some of the moms of the IChooseYou kiddos how to sew. She began by teaching them how to make pillow cases (large and small). This year, she taught them how to sew over-the-shoulder purses, tote bags, aprons, and dresses. One of the days, I got to spend observing Darby with these ladies, and I came away feeling completely humbled and amazed by her patience, loving kindness, and willingness to serve God in such a tangible and beneficial way.  

You see, before Darby came into these wonderful ladies lives, they were doing anything they could to find work in order to support and feed their families. With the help of Darby, being Jesus' hands and feet, they have now learned a trade that can help to provide an income for their families.

Not only have they learned how to sew, but this year an IChooseYou mom decided to teach the rest of the ladies how to make these beautiful paper beads. I was blown away by their hard work and dedication. Those who can't see well enough to sew are now able to make paper beads.

All of these bead above were made in about a day, and are being dried so they can make them into necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Seriously, aren't these just way cool! Once again, completely blown away!

BUT, the hard work doesn't stop there. Someone (I have no idea who), taught these ladies how to make door mats out of strands of rope that are beautifully woven together.  Just incredible!

The amazing white woman in the middle of all those beautiful black women, is none other than the great Darby Burleson. One person making a difference in the lives so many others.

These ladies have become a great big family with God as their Father. They have been blessed and are major blessings. Please pray for these women to continue strong with the work they have been given. Pray that they will use their talents to the fullest and bless others daily with the Father's love.

Over the next couple weeks, I'll be posting these ladies stories (hopefully one a day, until they've all been told). Taylor and I were humbled, amazed and blessed by each one of their stories. I could sit and listen to the talk for hours about their testimony. God's hand has been protecting and guiding these women to grow up and become children and servants of His. Please take the time to read their stories and get to know them on a deeper level.

Surgery was a Success!

Thanks for all your prayers!! David's surgery went well. I just cannot wait to see what God has in store for this precious boy! Here are some pictures that I received from Becky the other day.

David after his final surgery! Takin' it like a champ!

David with his mom and dad.

This beautiful family is such a huge blessing to me!

Please pray for continued healing and no complications in the future.

Praise the Lord for this divine appointment and for Becky Ball and IChooseYou for paying for his surgery.

God's got a special plan for this little one!

Mr. Plumpy Nut

Ok so if you've never heard of Plumpy Nut, than go here before reading this post so you know what I'm talking about. 

Then meet Okirori, or Mr. Plumpy Nut, as Taylor and I like to call him, because we can't figure out how to pronounce his name.

(Photo Credit: Taylor VanDuinen)

I noticed him one of the first days of walking through Namatala. First, because he was scared for us to come anywhere close to him. Second, because of his lack of energy and enthusiasm compared to the other kids. And third, because of his thinning hair.

Reasons two and three are both signs of malnourishment. So, I kept my eye out for this little guy, and later on in the week, I was able to measure his upper arm circumference to see how malnourished he really was. He was about two centimeters under the danger zone which didn't surprise me because he's five years old but looks more like two or three.

Before our trip, we had plans with a knock-off company of Plumpy Nut called Cibo for Children to bring over a few suitcases full of this stuff to help malnourished kids. Unfortunately, a few weeks before our trip, something went wrong with their machines, and they were unable to produce anymore for us to bring with us.

So, Taylor and I decided to make some "Plumpy Nut" ourselves with a jar of peanut butter, powdered milk, and vitamins. We gave it to Okirori, and told him to take one vitamin every morning and a spoonful of the peanut butter and powder milk mixture three times a day everyday until it was completely finished.

I wish I would have gotten a picture of him running out of his house with this empty jar of peanut butter held high over his head and smile spread wide across his face. It was by far one of the cutest things I've seen. He was so proud of his accomplishment and looking forward to getting another full jar from us.

Needless to say, by the end of our trip, he was looking much healthier, acting much livelier, and was actually excited to see us.  

(Photo Credit: Taylor VanDuinen)

Love this little boy and the relationship we were able to build with him and his mama.

Please pray for his health and for continued healing over his body. Also pray for his mom. She brews alcohol for a living and as well joins in on nightly drinking going around in Namatala. Pray that Holy Spirit would overcome this family and that we will be able to see them again in heaven one day!

Update on Precious Baby David

Word is that David and his family arrived late to the hospital for his surgery last week, and the doctor decided to leave. So they rescheduled the surgery for today. He went in yesterday for cleaning and prep and stayed overnight in the hospital for the surgery today. It's about 10 pm their time so the surgery hopefully has already happened.

Once again, please be praying for quick healing, strength for the mom and dad, wisdom for the doctors to finish out strong post surgery.

Thank you all for your prayers. God's got a special plan for this family and your prayers are helping in this process. They mean the world to me!

Charcoaled Hand

CAUTION:

Graphic picture below.

Please proceed at your own risk.

We were told of a lady who severely burnt her hand. We were asked if we could look at it to see if there was anything we could do for her. When we arrived at sweet Margaret's place, she was sitting on a bamboo mat with her hand wrapped in several different rags. We asked if she could show us her hand. She slowly peeled back the rags. You can see the pain she's going through just by the expressions on her face. After about the fourth or fifth rag she pulled off she finally revealed to us a severely burnt hand. But this hand was not just burnt....

It was covered in charcoal. Supposedly, the word around the street is that charcoal helps heal burns. At the time we were brought to her we were actually running late for lunch. So we told her we would come back in the afternoon. We asked the villagers around if they could boil us a jerrycan full of water so that we could soak her hand to loosen up the charcoal a bit.

When we arrived back there in the afternoon, we asked them if they could bring us the boiled water and a basin. They responded with, "we didn't boil any water but we can get you some from the well." At this point I was slightly frustrated because we made such a huge point to them of boiling water for us. So I told them, "we have to have boiled water, now we won't have enough time to work on her hand." And they replied with, "why do you need boiled water, you can do the exact same thing with cold water as what you can with hot water. It doesn't need to be hot, she just has to soak her hand." Oh boy...! They obviously had no clue that boiled water meant clean water not just hot water. So I explained to them that the reason we wanted boiled water was because when you boil water it kills all the bugs and germs and makes it clean. Luckily, we had another patient we needed to treat in Namatala so we told them to boil water while we were gone and we would be back to work on her hand.

We had a limited amount of water but did what we could with what we had. The first day we spent about an hour to an hour and a half picking off a good majority of the charcoal, and the second day, we spent another hour getting the remaining charcoal off. It was a grueling and painful process. The smell alone could make you pass out. But Margaret was a trooper the entire time.

The most incredible thing and all glory be to God for this one: she has movement in her fingers, there was blood coming from the burn, and she could feel pain in her hand. Praise the Lord! These are all very good signs towards recovery. From the looks of her hand the first day, I would have guessed that she would not have full mobility in her hand. Because the burn was around her entire wrist and half way up her fingers, the chances of movement is slim. But, God is still in the miracle business and He has been healing her hand.

Please pray for continued healing over Margaret's hand. Also pray for Margaret and her family's salvation. The last Sunday we were there, her and a few others from her "hut cluster" came to church. 

Another HUGE prayer request for her and her family, as well as the rest of Namatala, is for their need for alcohol. Margaret got this wound from being drunk. She walked into her hut one night, completely drunk, while her kid was boiling water. She knocked over the boiling water and it poured all over her hand. Namatala becomes a very dangerous area at night because of all the people drinking and smoking. Pray that Satan would be removed from this area and that God's light would shine through to all the people there. Pray that the adults would be an example to the younger generation and fight this problem of alcoholism. Also pray for those who are brewing this alcohol as a source of income. Pray that God would provide another way for them to support their families.

A Godsend

Please be praying for this precious baby today.

His name is David.

A.K.A. Loru

When David was born, he had no way of going poop, so this was a temporary solution to that problem. He was supposed to have it completely fixed seven months ago, but the family didn't have enough money to have the operation done. That's where Becky Ball, founder of I Choose You, stepped in. People in the U.S. had donated extra money for Becky to use however she felt led, and God led her straight to this precious little boy.

Becky used that money to bless this family with the gift of life to their little boy. Without this surgery David would not live much past the age of five. Thankfully, God directs our paths in just the right ways at exactly the right times.

On June 7, David had his first of two surgeries to correct his intestines, check for infection, and make a whole in his butt for the poop to pass. Eight weeks later, they were to schedule the second surgery to close up the hole on his abdomen, re correct the intestines and make sure the poop would pass through to the hole in his butt.

Eight weeks later is TODAY. Pray for this precious family as they put their one-year-old baby boy through a grueling surgery. Pray that they would trust in the Lord with all their heart. Pray that the surgery would go smoothly, with no infection and no problems. Pray for wisdom for the doctors. Pray that this little boy would grow up to be a leader in his community testifying about the great work the Lord has done in his life. The surgery will be going on while we're sleeping tonight. So please lift them up before your head hits the pillow tonight and first thing when you wake up tomorrow morning.

He's already happy as can be, and I praise God for that daily. The whole family accepted Jesus as their Savior and have been faithfully attending church. The dad used to be a Muslim but when we talked to him about Jesus, he said, "I have seen the LIGHT. I once was a Muslim, but I know it is wrong and I need Jesus." WOW! That just blew me away and still does. I had the privilege of leading both the mom and the dad in the sinners prayer on two different days. Taylor and I were able to build an awesome relationship with this family. They were definitely the highlight of my trip, and I wish so badly I could be with them as they prepare for this surgery. But I am at peace knowing that God is with them and that is enough.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!

They mean the absolute world to me!

Two Very Special People

These two beautiful people are Regina and Brian.

(Photo credit: Brandi Silva)

Regina is originally from northern Uganda. Leaving her husband behind, she made the rather 'expensive' journey and grueling six plus hour bus ride to visit family in Namatala a little over six months ago. Shortly after arriving in Namatala, she fell sick of what they assumed to be malaria. And for the past six months, precious Brian has been doing his best to take care of Regina.

When we first met Regina, she was slowly crawling out of her hut using as much of the little strength that she had. Someone had brought us to her to pray healing and peace over her. Everyday, we would go back to visit these two precious people praying that God would remove the malaria and bring her back to full strength. At the time, we had no idea she had been sick for six months, and at the time, we thought, oh it's just malaria, she'll be healed shortly.

Two weeks later, she was a lot worse off than before. She could hardly move and had no strength at all to even sit up. So I investigated. I got the facts of her sickness to try to figure out what it really was that was affecting her. And this is when I found out that everyday for the past six months she had been fighting this sickness. And this is when I realized, there's no way this could be malaria.

You see, because malaria is so prevalent in Uganda every one's automatic conclusion when anyone is sick is that they have malaria. So they go to the doctor (if they can afford it) and ask for medicine for malaria without even knowing the real diagnosis to their sickness. And when they don't respond to the medicine, they still think it's malaria and the medicine just isn't working for them this time.

I informed Regina that she most certainly didn't have malaria because none of her symptoms matched those of malaria. In fact, she was severely dehydrated and completely starving. We learned that Brian would go to the trash piles everyday looking for food to eat or something that he could sell in order to buy food. Anything that he would find would go straight to Regina. Now, in Namatala this is a very common thing. A lot of kids go digging through the rubbish pits looking for anything for them and their families to survive on.

Ok now I just want you to stop for a second and put yourself in Regina's shoes. You're sick and have been for months. You have no food, no water and absolutely no way of getting any. Your seven year old son goes to the trash piles everyday and digs for something, anything, for you to eat. When he finds something, which is rare, he brings it home for you, not keeping anything for himself. You're starving and so is he, but he won't stop trying to take care of you. Your his responsibility now.         Can you even imagine??

Please pray for Regina and Brian. Regina is still sick but is now a child of God. Praise the Lord! Brian is still faithfully taking care of Regina and goes to church every Sunday with a beautiful smile on his face. They both need strength and the love of God to carry on. God is a God of miracles and I know he can help and heal these two. Your prayers are huge!