Uganda, is that place for me

How does one begin to reflect about an eighth trip to a country so economically poor, but to a people so unselfishly generous?  

By saying it was a journey, with a group of individuals, uniquely gifted, tender hearted and with the desire to improve the lives of others if there was any way possible, but also saying each day was a gift to us from our Father who desires for us to love, as Christ loved. To seek our inner most thoughts and find the person He desires for us to be. To continually reach for our full potential and sometimes that means we must leave who we are in our comfortable places and . . . go.

Go . . .

 to the unknown,

the uncomfortable,

the different. But go.

It is in these places and moments of time that we place our hand in the hand of Shepherd and allow Him to lead.

It is in these places and moments of time that who we have been is being molded into who we are to become. And that is why this is trip number 8.

I want to be transformed daily into my full potential in Christ and sometimes that means I must leave those that know me, leave that which is familiar and go. In Uganda, there are women who know me and challenge me to be a better person just by their witness. There are men who get up early to take care of their families needs, then go off to work for hours tending to the needs to travelers and their employer with never a negative remark, only kindness and generosity. . . those men challenge me to be a better person. There are grandmothers tending to the needs of their orphaned grandchildren without a steady source of income. . . these grandmothers challenge me to be a better person. I think you get the message. Sometimes I need to see that my life with all of its tests are minor compared to those living in Uganda. . . and I’m challenged to be more grateful.

I need to sit on a mat on the ground inside a mud hut or handmade mud brick room and listen to the life story of a woman living with HIV/AIDS and have my heart broken.

I need to sing with my fellow travelers about Jesus, our Messiah as we celebrate the gifting of a new home to a grandmother caring for eleven grandchildren and feel the Spirit move in my heart afresh.

I need to go,

I need to be challenged,

I need to be broken

And I need to feel the spirit afresh in me.

Uganda, is that place for me.

Deb Breeden