Saturday
morning we met early to say goodbye to one member of our team and pray over him
as he heads on around the world to Thailand, serving yet another ministry to
children. The rest of us split into our
4 board members heading back to the village of Kakira for a meeting which
included just a little bit of diplomacy/ministry…we spent about 2 hours there,
while the rest of our team took the boda bodas into town for some last minute shopping
and them met us at the Chayah’s home. We
had about 3 ½ hours to finish up any last minute projects and spend some time
with the kids. I know you will be as
surprised as we were that the boys slept in the sitting room floor again…really
even Ugandan time doesn’t run as slow as Paul, the carpenter. At this point, if he wants to use the Muzungu’s
power tools and converter, he has to get there and get them done by mid week,
or even his own guys are gonna be frustrated going back to the manual drill and
saw.
A few beds
were rearranged, we put up more mosquito nets and the kids got to see some
prints of the pictures Katee Grace took of them this week. We thought ahead enough to bring one of the
small portable printers with us and she spent long hours in one bedroom, printing
out a great selection from this week for them to hang on the twine with clothes
pins. Each bed was adorned with darling
pictures. They are beginning to feel sure
that they have their own space, even if it is the size of a twin bunk. It’s all their own and only theirs. Each bunk has a hook for their backpack and a
place to hang the towel with their name.
Bathroom’s have a shelf labeled for their bath basket and a nail to hang
their sponge. It’s beginning to feel a
lot like home and I think they might be starting to realize it is for
good. Tiny Shakira though, had already
spent several weeks in the home and arms of Janet and the girls, so she did ask
Janet yesterday when the rest of the children would be going back to the
village. Shakira needs more personal
attention and hands on love than the rest, at least for now, so she is feeling
a bit put out by so many others around.
We spent some
time playing, talking and then the clock reminded us that at least one thing
runs on time in Uganda…airplanes. So the
dreaded moment came when we had to round up all of Chayah and say goodbye to 5
of the hardest working, most loving, grace-filled people I know. The Spirit used this willing bunch to begin a
work that God had planned long ago. We
are so grateful. There were a few tears,
lots of hugs and 40 brown hands waving them off.
Heading back
to the hotel, everyone showered, packed and had a snack before the long drive
to Entebbe. I can’t even begin to speak
for them. But we’ve sent them home to
you, so they will be speaking for themselves very soon. Please don’t ask them to be brief. What has happened through this trip and all
they witnessed, participated in and felt, is far too great to be described in a
few short words. On the other hand, some
things are just so personal and deeply set that attempts to communicate it fall
far short. God is beyond the beyond in
what and how he does things. How he
weaves together broken people from two sides of the globe to bring hope is
without comparison. He is our King,
righteous, loving, good and ruler over all.
No suffering is too great for Him.
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