Little girl, I love you.

I have been in so many schools in my life, so one of the things I enjoy in Uganda is seeing all the smiling faces of the children we visit in each school. Anything goes in typical outreaches in the schools in Uganda, I think in part because of the massive need each school has for support and encouragement. The sheer magnitude of children, the dirt and rock floor classrooms, the lack of any books, chalk, pencils, or even qualified teachers is distressing to say the least. In Uganda, each child must pay school fees to go to school. There is no free or public education. There should be. The last day of outreach I had in the classroom I have spent my summer pouring into, ¾ of my students were missing because they did not have school fees. This means also that they couldn’t sit for their exams and would therefore not proceed. Prayers erupted from my heart for the children, the government officials who held funds that should be available to their countrymen, and for the teachers who had to struggle to offer the most meager education to children who need to change the world.

As I mentioned however, anything goes in a classroom. Sometimes the teacher is there, maybe with her baby, or sometimes they disappear for a much needed break. In the school where we were asked to conduct a field day, the teachers sat and watched as we tried to reign in 200 plus children who spoke very little English. I was on a team to help the little kids, up to age 12. So there were 3 year olds and 12 year olds participating. Eventually, after we ran out of energy and fun, we sat around holding children.

What is always true is that there is never enough love to go around. Not enough laps, not enough kisses, hugs, smiles, hands, and nurture. So on this day, I sat down, and slowly but slowly children began trying for my attention. Those who could not fit on my lap, tried to sit as close as they could, and others just went off to find an empty lap. But on this day, there was one sassy little girl. I could feel her attempts to thwart love right from the start. Likely in deep need of love, I began to sing and pray for her. She kept coming near and sideways looking at me, but then she was off again. Finally, she sat down about two feet away from me. Slowly but surely, she moved toward me inch by inch, until finally she put her hand on the edge of my knee… and a hour later she was in my lap. I held her close and she sat silent and still while I sang and prayed over her, knowing that Jesus answers every prayer. Little girl, I love you! I think I am sensitive to this because of some of my own life experiences.. as I imagine would be true for most of us. Jesus never leaves us or forsakes us, and times like I had with this little girl, who wouldn’t even tell me her name, can help solidify our understanding of this truth. We need people in our lives to demonstrate what He meant by this, and what it means that He understood all our our weaknesses and pain. He was abused, betrayed and rejected like all of us, but only in the context of family, even if only for a few hours with a surrogate mom, can we experience the reality of His overcoming love for ourselves.

After a while, it was time to love on the teachers. We played volleyball in scorching hot sun, and beat them. It was noteworthy that a simple game together had such an emotional impact on so many. When I was too tired and hot for more volleyball, I went to the teachers watching with my team and we painted their nails which I am admittedly not very good at. These women, Muslims and Christians alike, are to be commended because at this school, many of them have been there for a few years and are still plowing the hard soil. As we talked and enjoyed each other’s company, we painted jagged and filthy nails on their hands and feet, and all I wanted was to wash them and do things properly. Water. Oh How we take it for granted. However, I think our fellowship was enjoyed by all. 

Many people will come and go from organizations such as the one I have been involved with this summer, but it makes me sad that there are so many children and so few laps to hold them. I have been told that in Uganda, more than half the population is under 15. I don’t know if this is true or not, but I do know, the need is profound. So, I will do a little here and a little there and trust Jesus with the rest. I will never give up on the dream that Uganda is on God’s heart, just like all of the developing countries, and that in His goodness, and our participation, all good things are possible.