Nov 6, 2010 – Surprise!

This morning something happened that made me so happy. I don’t know that I can explain it in a way that you will understand..and I think that only Ann will get it…but I will try!

I arrived at the boys around 945am, and was helping to iron some of the boys clothes when I saw Moses come into our yard with a bunch of boys...he came inside and told me that he had a surprise for me. He took me by the hand and led me outside…and there were all the rest of the boys that Ann and I had met 2 years ago…all coming to see me because they heard that I was back in Uganda…!!! I have had zero contact with these boys since the day that we left Uganda last time. I had asked about them, and found out that they were being taken care of by another organization, but I hadn’t seen or heard of or from them for so long. It was great to catch up with them, to hear how they were doing, and see them healthy and happy and clothed and fed! They were so excited to see me, and I was so excited to see them! We took a bunch of pictures, and then I headed off to the crusade with them.

There were a couple of boys that were missing from who I remembered from last time. As we were crossing the road I saw him…Joseph…the boy whose picture was up in my room for the last 2 years, and which is now in my bible. He ran to hug me and it was an amazing moment. He stayed by my side for the rest of the time that we were together. I told him that I was so happy to see him, and that I had been praying for him, and that his picture was in my bible..and that everything I had been praying for seemed to be happening. He asked if he could get a picture of the two of us, so we took another picture…and I suddenly realized that I was wearing the same shirt as the picture taken 2 years ago, plus we were at the same soccer field, and while it was a different jersey, in both pictures he was wearing a jersey. It was like no time had passed, but so many things had changed! He has a home, is going to school, and is going to be able to go somewhere in life. I couldn’t have asked for God to answer my prayer in a more exact way!

All of the boys had to leave to go play a football game, but we made plans to see each other again soon.

Sometimes I get blown away with how great our God is, and how much he loves us. Being given the opportunity to see those boys again, and to spend time with them, and to see that they are happy, healthy and loved is more that I could have ever asked for. I know this may not seem like a big deal, but for some reason it makes me feel unworthy to be loved and cared for by a God who is so great and powerful, and can do anything He wants, and he loved me enough to give me the opportunity to re connect with those boys. Why? I don’t deserve that? I will never understand how much God loves us…me…but over and over He continues to show his love and mercy and grace to me.

Later that day though we had a more difficult situation take place. Hassan came back to the house to talk to us, and to see if he could come back to the home. But, he wasn’t willing to change some of his ways (and not wanting to go into too many details I will leave it at that) but we had to tell him no. Walking him to the road broke my heart. What was I supposed to say? Were we making the right decision? Even now (I’m writing this a day later) it makes me sick to think that he is out there somewhere on the streets..sleeping. But this is his decision, he needs to be willing to give up begging, and asking for food and money. I can’t do anything to change that. Being on the streets is like an addiction, and until he wants to change that, nothing I can do or say will change it. Now, its up to God, I need to pray, please pray with me.

Anyways, I was really upset after walking him out, so I went to sit under the tree in the front yard…Robert came to see me, and to ask if I was ok…as soon as he saw me (I was had tear at this point) he was like…no, you’re not ok (for Robert that is A LOT of English all at once). He sat with me, and then Jacob came out and put his arm around me and let me cry on his shoulder for a bit…telling me that I didn’t need to cry. Having them try to comfort me probably did not help my teary state BUT I got myself together, and it was all good. Alittle embarrassing to be caught crying by the boys…but I appreciated them trying to comfort me…have I mentioned how blessed I am by these boys yet?

That afternoon we took a bunch of the boys swimming with Glen and it was a blast! I had the chance to teach the side stroke, and I tried to teach Alex how to tread water…but I’m not sure that went very well. Lol. We stayed for a couple of hours, and then headed home and then off to the crusade. I have to say that after you go to a crusade once, you’ve been a thousand times…sorry to those of you who love crusades, but after about 30 minutes I was done. Henry and I left to go back to the house and worked on a bunch of Sanctuary paper work (lucky us!). Jacob made us a delicious supper and then I was on my way home.

What did I learn today? God loves me and gives me more than I can ever deserve!