Uganda 2025 Day 6

Uganda 2025 Day 6

My sleep was very rough. I woke up every hour. I think it is because I was to hot. The fan in the room was on, but it was facing the wall. In the morning, I saw the second string that oscillates the fan. Arianna, my roommate, realized the fan had 3 settings when she pull the cord to turn it off. We had it on setting one. I went down to help with breakfast, but Mama and Sarah already had it done and Eric (employee/helper from the hotel) already put the food in the dining area. So, I helped open all the containers and handed plates to people when they came to the front of the line. When breakfast was over, we had worship and were given assignments for the day. I love worshiping with the team and the Ugandans. The dining area echos and the sound of us worshiping is with that added is even more beautiful! 

When we arrived at clinic, there were already people in the waiting area to see the doctors. These people were sent away the night before because we had no time to see them. They were able to come back and skip church and education because they already were there. Church service was full by the time we walked down there also. In church service were Tony, Jody, Shanna, Chelsea and I. Like normal, Tony and Jody did the service for the first group so they would be ready quick for the doctors. This time Jodie asked if any of the Ugandans had testimonies of how they felt after receiving Christ. One lady said she was not happy when she came and she did not want  be at the service, but then she was happy and enjoyed it. Another came up and said she had been here two years ago. She had a child who was 7 years old at that time. After coming to church and hearing Jody’s message, she soon became pregnant. She shared she wanted to thank Jody last year, but was unable to. She was grateful to have the opportunity this year. There were a few of these shared and it was so touching. When the next group (and last group) of people came in, I was able to share the message of salvation. I started with creation and the fall. Then read Romans where it says because of one man (Adam) sinning we all now sin. It also says because of one man’s 

righteousness (Jesus) sins are forgiven. 

Of course I brought in John 3:16 as well. I talked about many things in between, but also that when we truly accept Christ into our lives that we will not face God’s wrath in judgment. Not long after that it was time for lunch.

After lunch, Chelsea, Shanna, and I went to help with kids church. Ben had a meeting with us to go over the afternoon plans. We started with game stations. We had a hola hoop station where the kids stand in a circle holding hands and have to get the hola hoop around their body and to the next person without letting go. There were two stations with different games involving cups. In my station I had a parachute. On of those you play with in elementary school. The kids loved it! We brought some last year too. From there, we went into singing and dancing. I think this is their favorite part. Their favorite song this year is “God is good.” It is the easiest for me to remember the dances to and their singing/enthusiasm made me love it even more. Next, it was time for me to lead the message. Ben and Sydney were amazing at planning kids church and had a topic and message written up. They said they just wanted the topic talked about and we could change up whatever we want of the message. I planned to stick with what they wrote, but changed a couple words or added questions. My subject was sharing the gospel and the passage was of the Samaritan woman at the well. Of course I explained the story and then could not find where on the paper I was at for the teaching, so I just stated the importance of Jesus visiting the woman due to her life status. Also, the fact that she was willing to go to town where people looked down on her to share about Jesus and have them listen to and follow her. If you look into this whole interaction from start to finish, it is an incredible example for us. Not long after that it started raining, so they sent the kids to find cover or go home. That was the end of kids church for the day because the rain continued. I decided to spend time on the covered area with Sam N. He is like a big brother do me. I have always enjoyed our friendship and our playful teasing of each other. I think I tease him more than anyone else in Uganda. Thus, he is like a big brother. While on the porch, Ethan came and was soaking his head in the rain dripping from the roof. We had some god conversation about the trip and both of us hope he can come back another year. Ethan has a following of young boys so they showed up with us. They thought it was funny he was letting the water drip on his head, so he shook the water off onto them. They thought it was funny so he did it a second time. 

Some of the girls that were in the group that carried me kept coming up to me through out the afternoon and just staying with me. One of them would say “auntie” to get my attention and then blow three kisses at me. I would do it back and she thought it was hilarious. It was time to load in the bus and about 4-5 of the girls were pulling my arm and telling me to stay with them. They are strong and it was hard to move far. One of our interpreters ended up saying something because she saw the struggle (despite my laughing) and they let go. They stood next to my window blowing kisses. 

While in the bus I learned that our interpreters were not going to be dropped off on the way to the hotel, but were going there with us. I told Jennifer she had to keep their group at the hotel for a few minutes while I did something. After arriving, I ran upstairs to grab the paracord bracelets I made. I pulled all of them out of the bag and told each of them to pick one. They were so funny. I did warn them the sizes were different… and learned to make them to my wrist in the future. They all finally decided and I took photos. Then a couple of them decided to switch their choice. Their joy was worth the time and money it took to make them all. After dinner I handed out candy that I brought. I gave some to the 5 Ugandan doctors, David, John Bosco and John Basco. They enjoyed it. I brought cotton candy and pop rocks again. Of course I could not only bring those, so I had sour patch kids and skittles. Each of them also received a paracord bracelet, a youth camp sonap bracelet, and a mini Jesus. There were two people who were given extra gifts. One was doctor Martin. I gave him a notebook that had photos with him on the cover from the last trip. I did the same for doctor Richard, but I also gave him printed photos from over the years that had him in them. I am not sure how easy or expensive printing photos is, so I thought I would bring them as gifts. I always enjoy my time with the guys, but it is better when I can also spoil them.