Tonight Natalee and I got the amazing opportunity to spend the night with the girls in their dorm. I'm not quite sure why we didn't do it sooner. We have laughed so much and it has been great to get some free time with them. I can hardly believe that tomorrow is my last day at HUMBLE. The great impact these children have had on me can't quite be put into words. They tell me that they will never forget me, but I will never forget them. I'm already planning in my head just what it will take to come back. I think what is hardest about this goodbye is knowing that I am just one more person they have to say goodbye to. So many of them have had to say goodbye to so many different people in their lives. P.5 graciously offered to hide Natalee and I under the beds in the dorms so we wouldn't have to go home. They don't know how tempting that is, but I know God has a season for everything and my season at HUMBLE is coming to an end.
This summer has been a summer full of laughter, smiles, tears of joy and heartbreak, singing, and anything else you can imagine 350 school children doing on a regular basis. I have bandaged scraped knees, dried many tears, sang along to many songs, told them I love them over and over again, spoken God's word to them, climbed trees, eaten berries, written on many chalk boards, spoken many Luganda words incorrectly, cried many tears myself, and loved every single minute of it. I have loved being directly in the middle of God's will for my life. I love that he brought me here to love others but also to teach me more than I could have ever learned by myself.
He knew 5 months ago when it was looking like I wasn't going to be able to come that he still had it planned for me to be here, right now, sleeping in a bed next to my beautiful sisters in Christ under my mosquito net. He knew that it wasn't going to be exactly what I expected but so, so much more. How is it that my God loves me so much that even when he sends me to go minister to others he still allows me to be loved on too. My heart is breaking at the thought of leaving these kids. I know it may sound crazy to those of you at home but honestly the idea of adoption has never been so forefront in my mind. This doesn't come from my own heart. It comes from the Father's heart for the orphaned, poor, and oppressed. It comes from the Father breaking my heart for what breaks his. He is father to the fatherless and provider to the empty handed. I know that the time for this is not now, but in my heart I already have too many little faces that are etched there forever.
I'm going to miss their rich voices singing "Oh my God is gooder!" I'm going to miss the little babies crying out "Mzungu, teacher Ashwee!" I'm going to miss the laughter that follows one of the Reverends sermons as he tells a crazy story to the children. I'm going to miss the feel of 12 children surrounding me all trying to hold my hand at the same time. I'm going to miss drying their tears that seem to come at the most unexpected moments. I'm going to miss them laughing at me as I try to play netball barefoot. I'm going to miss the breaking and rebuilding of my heart the Lord has done everyday since I have been here as he shows me more of their pain and more of his healing hand.
Tomorrow is our last day at HUMBLE. We will say our goodbyes and then Friday morning head out early to see some of Uganda's beautiful wild life. Sunday we will worship in Gulu and then Monday morning I will be leaving the beautiful continent of Africa to come home to you all. As some of you may have noticed this is a little bit sooner than what was originally planned. With all that has occurred in both Natalee's health and my own during our time here, as well as logistically with us starting school so soon, our parents, the conference, and ourselves have made the joint decision that the summer needed to end a little bit early. Natalee and I have declared that this just obviously means another trip back must take place! So tomorrow Natalee and myself could both use a little prayer as we say our goodbyes to these children that have stolen our hearts. More importantly though if you would be in prayer for the children that though they will miss us the Lord will quickly fill their hearts with his joy, love, and peace. See you all soon. As I have said before, thank you does not quite cover just how indebted I am to you all for your love, prayers, and support of me during my time here. Since I will be home a few days before I have to leave for Athens again I would love to answer any questions all of you have about my time here. Even though the Lord sent me here I feel like the messages he has taught me are meant to be shared. As I arrive home I will continue to keep all of you updated on the transition from culture to culture as well as sharing some more of the things the Lord has taught me and I have experienced that I have not gotten to write about yet. It is bittersweet to say I will be seeing you soon!
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