Refuge & Shelter

Today the sun was shining; the air was full of moisture. We spent our first hours with the kids hiking down to the Nile River and witnessing some children not only seeing for the first time, but also dipping their feet in the river for the very first time. The mood was light; there was laughing and smiles as wide as mouths would allow. We experienced through their laughs, some of the first moments these children were allowed to be children. They were allowed to play carefree of any burden or task waiting to be done. They stood in awe of one of God’s most incredible creations, and we stood in awe of them. Can you imagine living in a country so beautiful, in a place so filled with the majesty of His creation and never being able to experience it? Having the opportunity and immense blessing to able to watch them and experience this with them is something our hearts won’t forget.

In midst of all this, one of our younger boys decided he would give swimming a try, only he didn’t know how to swim. He went straight under for what seemed like a few long seconds before Jodi picked him up out of the water carried him to dry land and comforted him. He was reassured. He was safe from any harm that could have occurred. This story isn’t told to scare you or have you worry about the children’s safety, but to paint a beautiful picture of what the last few months have represented. This is a reflection of the young lives entering their new life at Chayah. These 19 beautiful children, whom we will leave in a few short days, are children who God had claimed as His, long ago. He has single handedly plucked each of them from the drowning pains of this world and brought them comfort and a chance at new life. Yes, it is easy to look at those 19 smiling faces and see pure joy, to see a smile untainted by the pain and hardship they may have experienced, but truth be told, they have experienced it. They have lived and endured it. These little lives have been through rough waters, frantically kicking and trying to stay a float, and right when they started sinking, Jesus plucked them from the water and breathed new life into them. He has plans for each and every one of those sweet children and for that, we are forever grateful.

"(1) O lord, you are my God; I will exalt you an praise your name for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago…(3) Therefore, strong peoples will honor you; cities of ruthless nations will revere you. You have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat." Isaiah 25

This is a beautiful reminder of who God is that that HE is the REFUGE and the SHELTER and HE has planned this and cared and loved his people way before HE sent any of us to do so.

As part of the team prepares to make the long journey home on Saturday, they take with them memories of lives forever changed by Jesus. The memories of children saved from slavery, of mothers making a sacrifice to give their child away to save them from their circumstance. Memories of a father placing his children’s welfare above his own, of a poor woman taking a child of the street and making room for one more in her one room mud home. The staining memory of what a smile of pure joy looks like when they see their new home and own bed for the first time. These are the memories that will change lives, both here in Uganda and back home in the States. We leave this country knowing there is work God is doing here and we are beyond grateful to be allowed to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus to these children as He grows in them. We leave these children in loving hands that God has appointed.

This is a home that will be forever filled with love, joy, kindness, respect, faithfulness, and growth, because it is a home forever filled with Jesus who radiates this all.