You hear people say "you will be blessed for your mission trip" and the reply is "you expect the children will end up blessing you more". Sounds pretty standard. If you have not experienced this priceless, preciousness of blessings offered by children in need, then take your next leave of absence and spend it in a country where your offering is multiplied exponentially by their love, smiles and true appreciation for the absolute basics in life.
And so it begins.....With great wisdom our leader, Ted Moody (http://www.penniesforposho.org/), took us to Jinja Island first. An improvised island under the leadership of a pastor working to improve the lives of hundreds of children while educating them and focusing their lives on Jesus. It is amazing to see how these children responded to the team. They have so little and the simplest gift of a roll of Sweet Tarts is worth a bow or curtsy. We gave out clothes, hygiene items and shoes to the children at the orphanage and some from surrounding villages. The trip to the island was on a boat that I think is the same one used by Peter and Jesus in Matthew 14. No matter the condition of the vessel and baling of water (ahem!), you soon focus on the beauty of Lake Victoria and the headwaters of the Nile and the real goal.
After almost two and half days of constant travel, we arrived at Royal School and Orphanage. If you look on my FB page, Dr. Mandy Tolson, has been gracious to post photos she took while on the trip. She is a wonderful woman of God and truly blessed in what she sees in the lens of a camera. We could see the same child or horizon and her eye would capture the right second in time to snap the photo- really lovely pictures!
When we departed the bus at RSO, Grace was waiting with flowers. I almost lost myself, weak-kneed and worn from the travel; her embrace gave me renewed strength and hope. She is a shy child and slowly over 11 days emerged to smile, even when unprovoked. Big Daddy, Dr Mandy, Dr Sammy, Stacy and Uncle Ivan could always bring out her joy!
We were blessed to have many days with the children. The team's focus was to build the poultry house and a retaining wall. This type of work that was really not suitable for Mandy and me, therefore, we spent time sorting gifts, presenting gifts and loving on the children. Many hours were spent with Ivan (a whole separate post on him soon) traveling to Kampala to work on guardianship issues and one day dedicated to visiting the grower of the poultry for chicken house once completed. Of course, that visit was the domain of the veterinarians and Moses (son of Jalia, Head Mistress- exceptional man!)- but I tagged along to learn about Ugandan production. Quite a nice learning experience.
There are many, many stories to share- teaching Grace to use an ipad; buying Grace shoes; traveling in a van on Ugandan roads; Godly men and more. I will combine two stories to shorten the narrative.
Buying Grace shoes- First and foremost, hire Ivan as your driver. If you travel from the village to the city, you are in more danger from vehicular encounters that any other malady. Mandy, I and Uncle Ivan took Grace into a shoe store in Kampala to buy a pair of "black Mary Janes"- typical school shoe. However, my little fashionista initially chose shoes with flowers on the toe, but they did not have her size. She settled on a more basic Mary Jane after letting Mandy know that one pair we suggested was not her style. The thing that was precious to see was this quite, shy little girl has an opinion and willing to state it with graciousness for the shoes chosen in the end. Lesson 1 for Sharron: when we returned from the shoe trip, it had rained, there is lots of mud. I asked Grace to wear her old shoes to her dormitory and not get her new shoes muddy. After two refusals, I put the old shoes in the box and we headed to her dorm. When we arrived, she walked straight to a friend and gave her the old shoes. Apparently, old, worn school shoes are better than no schools shoes. The love between these children melts your heart and teaches you more than you can ever expect.
Godly men: Most of you, who know me, really know me; understand my issues with having men in my life and respect. While forgiven and blessed to be where I am, God revealed to me a huge blessing while in Uganda. The men on this mission with Pennies for Posho were constantly talking about their wives, children and God or I should say God, wives, children. Their hearts for the kids at RSO were revealed from the minute we stepped off the bus, until we parted at Atlanta airport on the final leg back home. To see men give their hearts, time, energy and mostly love to build the foundation and trusses for the poultry house and a stone retaining wall at the orphanage was an inspiration. However, it paled in comparison to holding children in their arms, playing sports with them and wiping tears- yes, the children's tears and their own. These are real men- we call them Warriors at C3 and each one has a warrior's heart for their Father, their family and His work. There were two teenage boys in the group of Godly men- extremely impressive in their own work and love for the children. Lesson 2 for Sharron: They are the HOPE, when we look for HOPE; we need look only to look at the children we went to serve and the children serving God. They are the future of our globe. Teaching them to be selfless, to love God and their neighbor is our charge in the first two commandments. Yes, being with Godly men was an experience with great lessons that I did not expect.
