Nurse Haley

602

This is the number of people that came to our medical clinic today… twice as much as yesterday which was twice as much as the day before. They offer this to all the major villages around, and it is free. My job is called “triage”, I take blood pressure, temperature, and pulse...just like a nurse. It is pretty glorious because I get to pray and sing and love on everyone all the while helping the whole system run smoothly. We are the first stop after registration, and then they are off to see the doctors. Then, blood work for all kinds of tests,and finally to the pharmacy and treatment room. After this, back to the doctor, possibly more tests and on and on we go. All of this takes place in a field, under tents, behind sheets, and plastic chairs. We set up and break it down daily. 

So, I got to spend time with about 200 people today alone. Yep. There were so many moments, like singing until the children stop crying, smiling until my face hurt, sharing, trying to communicate, and praying my heart out. I had so much joy in each interaction. My favorite is cajoling people to smiles and giggles.. it’s not hard with my very poor Luganda.

Of course, malaria, typhoid and “flu” are the most common issues, but diabetes and high blood pressure complications, hiv, stomach issues are also high on the list of ailments. Jesus came to heal… and though I know He is creative, I pray for miracles all day. Our teams have seen some amazing miracles which caused people to walk away from the clinic, like yesterday when Nelson prayed for a man with a swollen and paralyzed foot who had a walking cane. He grinned after prayer, handed Nelson his walking cane and walked off. Ha. Our father is amazing. Yesterday, there was one particular guy I was praying for, and the Lord whispered to my heart, “He doesn’t know me”, so end of story, He eventually made a decision to be my eternal brother, woohoo! I love the beauty of loving on the ones who know Him and  don’t know Him, being practical in service, and sharing the burdens of our brothers and sisters. Tomorrow it will only be preganant moms and their kids. Thanks for making this possible.

Walking

Walking in the most beautiful area I have seen in Uganda, called Busawari, we met several lovely women and children. We walked along the dirt road asking the Lord where He would like us to go, and we first found a jaja kneeling on the ground, sorting her peanuts, and smiling. Upon seeing us, she began talking excitedly and inviting us inside her home. She put down the mats and we removed our shoes, and soon a few children and younger women had joined us on the floor. It is such an interesting space to wait on the Lord while engaging the people we sit with because I never know what He wants to do or say before we go… as I waited, I felt led to share from John 15. Opening my bible, I quickly scanned the passage asking for Him to direct my words, and then I knew. What I shared ended up to be so much of an encouragement not only to the listeners but to me. God is such a better teacher than me. After many thanks for the message, she said she had need of prayer and that she had been praying about how she was going to get to the doctor but that God had sent us as an answer to her prayer. We obliged, prayed and His presence was so strong for which I am always grateful… and then we prayed for the others. But then, something so beautiful happened. The jaja scooted close to us, reached out her hands and asked us to please pray again, she loved it so much. She grabbed out hands and snuggled close as she could and smiled the whole time. What amazing awesomeness is this? When you taste and see that the Lord is good, there is nothing that can stop you from being hungry for more of Him. He is so good, and nothing surpasses his touch. It was hard to leave her, but we carried on as she waved goodbye and went back outside to sort her peanuts.

Our next stop was also wonderful. Jaja Constance was overjoyed and delighted because she has a troubling cough and wants the Lord to heal her and felt we had been sent. Again, waiting on the Lord, as we were fellowshipping I felt led to a particular passage in Romans, and began to share what the Lord said about her through this scripture. She was overcome with such gratitude and said that her heart was really touched. More than this, she said she was strengthened to pray for and bless her enemies and felt that she could carry on. I thought this was so kind of the Lord. This jaja was super excited for my hug and kiss at the start of our meeting because she explained that she really loves hugs and such, and Ugandans do not typically show affection. Ha. God knows her, sees her and meets her needs through random strangers. Wow. At the end, she held me so tightly I thought my heart would explode. She was too precious. I often notice that when jajas are talking with us, the young people stand casually by as if waiting to see what will happen. We never miss the chance to love on them as well. God loves each and every one.

As we walked on, two Muslim women approached us and said that they knew that we were born agains because they saw us praying and holding our bibles, but that they wanted us to pray for them. What?!? So, as we stood there and told them what God says about them, and pointed them to the truth of who He is and who they are to him as beautiful and wonderful daughters, there was no doubt how touched they were...So much so that they asked for our book of John and Romans, and asked where they could see us again. What an amazing God we serve, and how ripe is the harvest! There is so much more I could talk about… again, just glimpses of life. Thank you for sharing it with me.

Dancing

Dancing… everywhere we go, we sing, dance and enjoy fellowship with whomever God puts in our path. The truth always comes out, we love because we ourselves have been loved and love is contagious. We set out this day to love on a few people, take them some rice, some Jesus, and some fellowship. Stopping at jaja Vincent’s house, we walked up and my heart really wanted to see that our last prayers for him had been answered. You see, he had a stroke that left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair. His wheelchair is in essence a plastic chair on a cart. He is delightful in every way and I could sit with him all day long. We began showing off our Luganda and singing some fun songs for him, and then a miracle occurred. He began to twist and turn to the beat of the music as he sang along. We kept singing hoping for more, like getting up and dancing more, and though this did not happen today, we believe it will. His daughter then explained that he hadn’t danced since he had his stroke five years ago. Glory! So we will keep praying for him. After dancing, singing and laughing at our poor attempts to sing a new language, he looked straight at me for a minute, as if searching my soul, and he said these precious words… “when you smile at me like that, it proves to me that we are all one family, and that you love me.” I held back the tears at such a profound statement, but it made a mark upon my heart. There was so much joy and goodness of God in that little room with the dirt floor on this day. I glanced outside and noticed a woman across the path who had emerged from her house to sit a soak up some of the glory that was present, eyes closed, hands raised and singing with us and I just watched as God touched her in awe. Then before we knew it, a very intoxicated woman stumbled in from out of nowhere seeking a touch from God. She just wanted to be seen and known and loved… so we helped her know that was true, and that we longed for her to know it. Praying for her, we left her basking in love and acceptance. Where His presence is there is life. I don’t want to be anywhere without Him.

We have had so many encounters like this. Wherever we walk, children come and grab our hand and walk with us. They are so undemanding, just full of smiles and gentle laughter. Ugandans are not showy, boisterous or demanding. They are humble and tender in so many ways. I love them so much. We enjoyed time this week with all ages. I love the variety of activity we do. We went to a school to play games all afternoon, but there was a child in a polka dotted shirt who needed my full attention, aka, to soak up some Jesus love. So we sat in silence mostly while the others played. I watched as a sister who was carrying mamas baby on her back tried to join in the games of her peers, and finally gave in to her heart, putting the baby on her top shirt so she could play. The baby sat contetendly on the blanket as if it were perfectly normal. A chicken made a mad dash for the baby but at the last minute darted around it. Baby was unphased. Meanwhile I decided to sing to my silent friend. She liked it, and snuggled even closer.  What a simple act of love. She got love drunk as we say….heavy with his presence and did not want to move. It was glorious. Later I found myself covered in children on the ground as we enjoyed the tales of Peter Rabbit together. There was laughter all around as we read of his exploits. Thankfully these were older kids who knew English fairly well.

These were a few highlights of the week, even though I could write forever. So, I think I am going to keep smiling, singing, dancing and watching in wonder as he does the impossible… but for now, I am going slip into bed and dream of all the wonderful adventures ahead.

Smiles

We continue to pour out love on the community here. The variety of ways that Show Mercy supports the poor here is great. As teams continue to come through the base, there is always man power to accomplish a large number of goals. So, for me, I have enjoyed the honor of serving in many beautiful ways, but also in building relationships with the people in these villages. I have learned quite a bit about Ugandan culture, but I feel as if I have only scratched the surface. The poverty of the areas we serve is so stark, and yet the welcoming smiles and rolled out mats are always available. We sit and talk and share the love of the gospel, and we pray and we serve.

 Yesterday, you may have seen a couple of pictures of JaJa Jane. She is a sassy widow who loves music and grape Fanta. She lives in what feels like the jungle, and it is rather enchanting to walk to her house. Jane has trouble walking, she has a dress and a skirt and two shirts and no one to take care of her. So we washed her whole house out. This is what we call community service… a day to fulfill real needs in the lives of the margenalized.

 When we began with our tiny straw brooms, the first thing I noticed was the rat droppings everywhere. The amount of them was overwhelming in that I could only imagine a night with no electricity where rats were everywhere. It was a terrifying thought and my heart broke for her. We took care of all of that and prayed that the rats would leave her alone. Her only furniture was a bed. Then we washed her clothes and cleaned up all the trash around her house, and sang and danced and laughed. The last time we were there she requested (as we were painting her fingernails the color of the rainbow upon request) spaghetti. An American had told her about this dish and she wanted to try it. Her wish granted, spaghetti and Fanta served, she felt like a queen.

In all of this, she kept telling me how much she loved me. Others too, but there was a moment of beauty that she and I exchanged that day. It all started with a smile and a pause. I am finding that when we take a moment to really look at the person in front of us, and hold that gaze, something shifts, as if they know they are known. So as I found her willingness to stay with me and look right back at me, as if suspended in time, she received tender love through my smile and my eyes…. then Jesus moved her heart and Jaja Jane got a tear in her eye, reached out to me, drew me close and kissed me on my cheek as her frail body tried to hug me. No words were exchanged, just the power of love being released. I call this a miracle too.

It is in the moments when our hears become tender that He is able to heal and restore and make beauty from ashes. Feeding, clothing, visiting… Matthew 25 living, is an honor and our calling, but when He moves in the hearts to help a widow know she is loved, there is just nothing that can compare. I am so grateful.

I LOVE HER EXPRESSION! This was a picture of a chance meeting with her on another day. She was particularly spunky this day. 

Sitting in Kampala

I am sitting in Kampala and enjoying a very cool day, rainy, cloudy and peaceful. We come here to do some shopping and to have some different food and coffee.

This week we have done a variety of things which keeps us on our toes. This week we gave the staff and their spouses a party to honor them.Most of the staff who is married lives quite far from their spouse. It is such a ministry to the surrounding community and they are amazing as well.

My team is great and we have formed a special little family. There is Suzy my roommate, Phyllis our resident JaJa who is 71, Cole and Lindsey who are married, AND 20, and Danika who is also still in college. Then there is me. So, God has put us together and we have a lot of fun together.

Our schedule is packed full...we go to school almost every day, and they are doing a good job as a ministry, yet, there is such a huge need for overall reform. This is the most impoverished community I have ever been involved in. It is very much like the slums except without the sewage, trash etc.. so I am very intrigued. The beauty contrasting the poverty is stark.

Regardless, the way that we have been invited to pour out love and such to this community is sweet. I am learning a lot and know there is so much more to learn.

Your prayers are felt, and I know you are all with me, and here in spirit pouring out love as well.

Uganda!!!

This may be not very well done… but I wanted to give a short update to let everyone know how it is going. I have been here for such a short time but in all of this time, we have seen and experienced so much. Everything has been a whirlwind, because of the many opportunities to serve in the villages where we have roamed. So far, we have begun building relationships with all the wonderful Ugandans who Show Mercy serves. They have infiltrated every part of the surrounding villages with the gospel, with discipleship, with love, and with fellowship. I have been to schools, to churches, to the prison, to the farm, and to many more places. I have held many hands, hugged many necks, and prayed A LOT. But more on that on a few.

The beautiful overall temperament of Ugandans where we are located saturates the day, genuine interest and gentle and calm demeanors are in abundance and I love it. There seems to be peace in the atmosphere for a lack of a better way to describe it. I am in Kampala today, which I imagined to be like Nairobi just based on sheer size, but I would say it is nothing like that. I understand this difference of course,  but it still makes me pause. I am looking forward to exploring the slums at some point, but haven’t ventured there as of yet.

All of our efforts have been based in the villages which are about 4000 feet above sea level. The weather is spectacular, the jungle atmosphere vibrant and the red clay makes all that pop like magic. No picture that I have taken really touches the beauty I am surrounded by. Banana, mango, pineapple, jackfruit, avocado, passion fruit trees, to name a few, are in abundance as well as many other growing things. The flora and fauna.. dazzling.

The schools in the villages are quite open to the gospel, but there is much work to do in this area. We sing a lot, I preach and teach and pray, pray, pray. Then we carry on to the jajas or elderly. We sit in there one room mud huts, and we talk and share life for hours. There is wisdom to be gained from these souls, and there is love to share, to pour out. I imagine sitting all alone all day in the dark, and the joy visitors must bring. I prayed for Lazarus, an elderly stroke victim, and now he can move his arm and is not using his walking stick!!! Glory!!! Then there was the man who wanted to talk theology, the law, the truth, and it challenged me. I am learning that there is such a need for relationship with the Father and ways to invite people into a new way connecting with their maker, and I want to know the Father so much more each and every second…. I am crying out, as I hunger and thirst. There is only one path, and it is the path of intimacy and union with Him. So I am confronted with God’s goodness as I stumble along because He makes up for my lack.

The prison guys are also quite encouraging, with a lot of Amina (amen) and clapping at what I share. Again, so much prayer and listening.The justice system here is of course different, and I believe that God has plans in this area.

We feed orphans and hungry ones, we clothe them and comfort them, and in general, we are just doing life with the ones we are with so I am glad. There is a sense that relationships matter and that there is a give and take between the Ugandans and ourselves. It is a win win situation.

I wish this was better written and that I could do a better job for this but I hope you get a sense of some things going on here. It is quite a task to get anything done internet wise, so my blog may be a bust. Regardless, thank you for praying for me, and for being with me each step of the way. I can feel it.  I love you all.

 

How will they know?

Have you ever found yourself weeping uncontrollably for the salvation of a soul that you barely know or found yourself undeniably moved to hug the one in front of you?  Recently, I found myself in a puddle of tears, crying out for the salvation of someone I met who was in a real struggle but did not know the love of our Father. I wanted him to know this more than I wanted his life to improve, because ultimately, the "greatest of these" really is love. 

                Sing with me now..."Love, love, love, love, the gospel in one word is LOVE." :-) 

The world needs to know the goodness and kindness of a loving father, one who knows them more than they know themselves. Our globe is filled with humans occupying various land masses situated on the head of a pin in the mighty universe He has breathed into existence. No matter where we are on the head of that pin, we are invited to love people to life. 

One morning recently, as I was seeking His counsel I was led to Romans 10:14-18. Israel needed the gospel. "How can they call on whom they didn't believe in, or know about someone and something they hadn't even heard, or hear without a preacher..... and who could preach anyway if they had not been sent?" In His grace, a friend sent the same scripture to me later that week. I believe God is saying to all of us, "How will they know?". He has sent all of us into this world... and every land is filled with those who don't know the one who knit them together.  

Africa is a fantastic yet needy place. Both help and harm have come through people just like me and I don't pretend for one second that I will be immune to failings toward a people I don't know. No matter where we are, when we attempt to be His hands and feet and heart, at the end of the day, we are still just clumsy kids trying to make something beautiful to give to our Abba Father. So, I will head to Uganda and serve my heart out with Show Mercy to share what I can,  to dig into the reality of "How will they know?" and what this means there, learn more than I ever dreamed of, and see where He positions me at the end of it all. 

For sure, there are "How will they know?" questions in my heart for the people He is sending me to.  How will they know one to whom they may have never been properly introduced? How will they know they matter and that they are loved? How will they know they are not alone?   How will they know that they are a one of a kind, unique expression of the creator of the world? How will they know that they are brimming over with possibilities? There are so many of these questions running around my heart like little kids looking for someone to play with. I know He is the answer and so I offer Him literally all that I have, a willing heart. 

In the end, finding ourselves crying uncontrollably for the lost one, offering hugs to strangers and allowing ourselves to see the one in front of us with a heart filled with the love that we ourselves have been loved with, are moments we cannot create or attain through our own efforts. We need only to cry out for a surrendered heart and a willingness to answer the question "How will they know...?"

Thank you for joining me on the mission NOT impossible. :-) We are Brave! June 4, here I come, and I will see you all in September! 

Loving you ALL,

Haley

Hope, Joy, Anticipation

Hope, Joy, and Anticipation...

A friend recently wrote me a note encouraging me with this thought... "May hope, joy and anticipation be your best friends through this transition." This blessing has proven to carry a lot of weight in my heart. In the lack of the black and white answers to all the questions, for me, there is joy in the NOT knowing all that I could. It gives me the chance to dream, and wonder and wait like a little child... what wonderful adventures and possibilities await me? The truth is, man makes His plans, but it is GOD who orders his steps. (Proverbs 16:9) For now, I will have tea with my friends, hope, joy and anticipation and dream of the days to come and of course, I find these three in fellowship with my Abba Father and my wonderful people. Thank you for making room for me in your hearts and your deeds. 

Prayer Needs

Avery

my mama's heart

vision and divine connections for Kampala

divine protection and people called to pray for me and Avery

my dog, Brave

a great internship experience, and new friends

WISDOM

love, love and more love...

and of course, MORE wonder like a child