Uganda 2024 Day 6

During the night I woke up a couple time with a worship song playing in my head. At 3am I woke up again having an anxiety attack. I tried praying and singing different worship songs in my head. It did not help, so I texted my family chat and my pastors for prayer. This whole time I was debating waking algena (in the bottom bunk across from mine) up, but I knew she had not been feeling well due to very bad allergies. So, the moment I hear her roll over and saw her sit up in her bed, I was instantly in her bed asking for prayer and crying. I knew satan was attacking me. She instantly pulled me into her arms and asked what was going on. I told her I was having and anxiety attack and it’s not normal for me. We sat on her bed for a long time while she prayed over me and spoke life into me. She also knew it was satan. We knew big things were going to happen today and he was trying to rob me of that. The anxiety went away in a few short minutes, but she kept holding me and speaking to me. I finally went back to my bed so we could sleep. I texted my family back to let them know I was ok. Then I realized that my alarm was going to go off in 30 minutes and if I fell asleep it would have been bad as I would be super groggy. I laid in bed and listened to worship music instead. 

JoAnn had me in the church again. I was not surprised after the morning I had. Once we arrived at the church we met up front. Jodie gave her info again as a reminder and for the new people. She shared a passage that she felt God has put on her heart for the morning. Than we did worship again  For me it was a more powerful time than yesterday. As we sang, more of our group and the Ugandan group came in from downstairs. It was so powerful and I could feel the presents of God stronger. I could not hold back the tears that came due to the sheer weight of his presents. During that time of worship I just sat black and the word darkness. It happened twice so I knew it was God telling me I need to speak about darkness, but I also knew I couldn’t only focus on darkness. I needed to focus more on light. When worship was over, I was thinking about how I could find a scripture for this. My Bible doesn’t have a reference to help me. Then God reminded me that I have been going through the book of John with the girls Bible study at church. In the first chapter has quite a few verses about Jesus being the light. I grab my Bible and went and sat down. I knew there would be no time to write anything up because we had services and then prayer. So I just opened up to John and marked when it said “he” if it was John or Jesus  being talked about and “own” to say we and us. This was just gonna make it easier for them to understand in a quick time frame. I also wrote in my Bible ideas for darkness such as, anger, hate, sin, witchcraft, lust, and adultery. Benjamin had plans to share in the morning, so I was waiting till he shared before I would share my message. We were mainly doing the two messages so he ended up doing one of those at one point in the morning. After lunch, I was able to give my message. Benjamin did the first message and I let him know. I was going to go after him and it  a wasn’t for receiving the Holy Spirit. Sydnee then went after me and shared her testimony and offered the gift to the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke through me during this message. I still really don’t know what I said, but that does not matter. As long as it touched one person‘s life that is all that matters. When service was over I was able to go downstairs and spend    

   time with some of the interpreters. Then I saw my Karamoja boys! I was so excited to see them. I went over and gave them big hugs. John Basco ended up putting his headphones on me and turning on music. It was super cute. The headphones were not staying on well because my head is so small. It is always fun having the boys around. Spencer was playing with a water bottle lid the top of the hill and flicking a bottle cap to some kids, and whoever caught it would go up to the top of the hill and flick it down again. I joined the game for a few rounds as well. Everyone hung it for a while the doctors were finishing seeing patients. It was a good time of fellowship! 

Once we were at the house, I gave David and John Bosco their gifts from me. They each received a SONAP sheet for a new way to study the Bible, a book “Knowledge of the Holy”, and a medium size notebook that has specialized covers with pictures that had them in it from last year. Their reactions to the notebooks were priceless. I then gabe Job Bosco the one for his sister, Joyce. He said that I need to give it to her. I told him we won’t be in Usuk this year. John Basco said, “she is in Karamoja waiting for you.”  I could feel how giant my smile became and the joy that rose up in me. He said he told me I would see her, but I thought that he didn’t know we weren’t going to Usuk. I could not have been any happier in that moment. Our team then had dinner and group debrief. Most of the Ugandans left during this time, but the boys stayed because they were sleeping at Martin’s and riding to Karamoja with our bags and supplies so it would be there when we arrived. They left are planning to leave at 4am. At the end of our group debrief, we prayed for Benjamin. He flys out early in the morning. I think they have to leave for the airport at 12 or 1am. I am so happy he came and know God used him in a mighty way. 

When most of the team had left the meeting I had a talk with JoAnne. I asked her if I could ride to Karamoja this year with the Ugandans instead of fly. I told her I don’t care if she says yes or no, but I wanted to ask. She said she would think about it at talk to Martin when he came back. If she says yes, I will miss seeing the world changers and the shopping. While waiting I went downstairs and moved my big suitcase by the door. JoAnne asked me if I could help condense a bag and box of medical supplies (they were condensing bags for Karamoja), so I did that before I went to find the boys. I did not mention the possibility of me riding with them. I assume it is a long shot and don’t want to get their hopes up. On the other hand, I was able to give them a special treat. I grabbed my carryon and pulled out cotton candy I brought for them to try. I had John Basco, David, and John Basco 2 trying it. I had gone to the fair and sent John Basco and David a picture of Katie, Kassidee, and I with cotton candy. I asked if they knew what it was. They did, but had never tried it. They loved it! I brought two plastic containers that were different flavors. John Basco liked the blue raspberry the most. John Basco 2 and David liked the watermelon the most. Papa Moses came to get the boys for loading luggage in the bus. I had him try it really quick and he also liked it. I told the boys they had to come back to try another candy. Papa Moses came back first and Sydnie has come down and was able to enjoy the reactions to the next candy. It was pop rocks! I had Papa Moses try one. He thought it was funny! The first thing he said it was like is eating insects. Then he said it was like a waterfall in his mouth. He stayed with that description. I also gave one to Ivan. He enjoyed it, but was his normal quiet, silly self about it. After awhile I heard the boys inside. They got distracted by something good. Spencer had FaceTimed his amazing wife and they had said hello. I brought them back to the porch and gave each of them a bag of pop rocks. I told them to pour it in their mouth and once I asked them to open their mouths, they all started laughing. John Basco 2 said he could feel it in the back of his head and in his ears. He was laughing about that so much. We spent a bit of time together on the porch before Jen Grace shouted that JoAnne wanted me upstairs. When I got up there she said she had called Martin and they decided I could ride with them to Karamoja. She asked me a couple times if I was sure and felt comfortable going. At this point, she also remembered Sarah and Mama Esther would be there too. JoAnne seemed apprehensive, so I told her I feel fine about going with the guys, Sarah, and Mama Esther. I also said if she did not feel comfortable about it that I would stay with the team. She said it was fine if I felt fine. Then she said, “I was thinking about calling your mom to let her know, then I realized you are a grown woman capable of making your own decisions.” I was so excited! I then asked if she would be able to put someone on the first flight to Karamoja in my place. That is when she called Bethany over. It sounds like Will might take my place on the first flight. This year our team had to split into two flights. One laves at 7am and the other at 10a if I am not mistaken. This happened as one plane was down for maintenance. So the plane that flys the first time has to fly back and pick up the second team. At this time, due to where our conversation went, I told them about what happened that morning and at church. JoAnne asked why I did not share during debrief. I said I didn’t think about it. They were both excited about it. 

I returned back downstairs to the boys. They were all getting ready to leave. I looked at all of them and got a really big smile. Then I said, “I am going with you tomorrow.” They were all so happy! I did not keep them around to talk because it was around 11:45p and we had to be ready at 4a. Jen Grace and Lany were still up talking while Jen Grace hung her laundry. I asked them to stop at my room when they came down so I could give them something for Tony. They were very confused and asked why I could not give it to him, so I said because I am leaving on the bus in the morning. They were confused, but Bethany was standing there and said I was leaving with the Ugandans. Both the girls did not know how to take the news. When they came down I gave them a notebook I made for Brenda and money for Tony. I asked him to buy me a sword from the market as I could not go. I let the girls know this and also asked if there was enough money, if they could get me a fan. They graciously said yes. We kept talking and they were still in shock (I was too) that I would not be with them for a day. They were not happy with me and Lany kept calling me a cabbage. Haha! It will be weird not being with them, but I am so excited. Lany realized at this time that I was going to take my carry in bag in the vehicle with me. She asked if I could bring coffee and milk she had to Karamoja for her. It weighed to much to go in her bag on the plane. I got it from her and told them I needed to get to my room. I still had to grab everything I needed and shower before sleeping. I finally laid in bed about 1:30a and it took a few minutes to turn off all the exciting thoughts. I did wake up a few times before I finally got out of bed at 3a