African Muzungu

We were playing together. I would hide, she would find me, I would tickle her. I loved every minute of it, and her grin and giggle told me she did too. Then, as she ran around the corner, it happened. She ran her forehead straight into the corner of the metal window frame. I heard the thump and came around the corner to see her small hand clutching her forehead and her eyes filled with pain. But she didn’t shed even a single tear. Usually when a Ugandan child is hurt, they are immediately told not to cry, distracted from the pain, and sent away to continue playing. I can’t do that. I’m thankful for a mother who tenderly comforted me when I was in pain, and believe that is exactly what God would have me to do for these kids too. So I ran to her, knelt down and pulled her into my arms. Silently, she buried her face in my neck as her father watched on. With hand pressed against her swelling head, and face pressed against my shoulder, she quietly waited for the pain to reduce. If ice ...

As a missionary, I believe my single most important role is loving on people. In Uganda, that can look like a huge variety of things on a daily basis: verbal encouragement or praise, paying for school fees, listening to someone’s story, giving someone a ride, teaching a truth from God’s Word, tight hugs, a trip to the clinic, or even just a cheerful ‘How are you?’ I just love the myriad of opportunities I get to love on people, but love that has impact must also be very intentional. It takes thought, planning, praying, and sensitivity to the Spirit. And when Jesus binds hearts together with His love, it’s an incredible thing!! But what happens when the person you so intentionally loved, doesn’t love you back? Or even worse, stops loving you? Over last year, I developed an amazing friendship with a Ugandan family that I just adored. I spent hours in their home, sitting on their bed laughing, crying, cuddling their baby, trying new foods, and sharing the work of God in our lives...

I know this will come as a surprise to all of you, but I actually just arrived back in Colorado Springs with my family! I know this is unexpected and I would love to be able to articulate all of the reasons for this, but for the sake of the other people involved I just can’t say everything right now. But here’s what I can fill you in on: In the past couple of months, there have been several very traumatic situations that I have gone through. The betrayal of several people close to me has been incredibly painful, and while I have chosen to forgive each one of them, the wounds have gone deep. I know that the only one who can heal me from the pain of those betrayals is Jesus. So for now, I’m back in Colorado seeking healing and rest from Jesus so that I can go back to Uganda filled up and ready to pour out all of the grace I’m receiving from His hands back into the precious people of Kamonkoli. I know and believe that when I do get back to Kamonkoli, I’ll be that much more re...