Stories

STORIES

I have been in Uganda for 13 days now. At times I feel as though I have been here forever because I have already seen and experienced so much. I am writing this from the orphanage…there is Sunday school going on a few rooms down and I can here the drums and tambourines. The toddlers are in preschool learning about shapes and colors. The babies are outside on the front walk, some are crying at the moment. There are a lot of sounds and activities going on in this place constantly. At times I find it overwhelming. I usually retreat to the preemie house when it gets to be too much and cuddle with the little babies. We got a new one this weekend, Resty, she is 6 mos. and weighs only 3lbs and 5oz. She is already looking healthier and smiling more.

We’ve made it out to the villages a few times now. There are evangelism teams that go out every day to the surrounding villages and put on a VBS for the kids. The kids look forward to the team coming every week. We will begin going to the islands on Monday. This will be a new endeavor for Welcome Home and it will be exciting to be a part of it from the start.

We went to Stella’s home last week. Stella is one of the night workers and is from the North. When she first got here she asked Mandy, the director, to pray that her family would die. They were stuck in the North, the rebels had ransacked their village, and there was nothing left for them. They were living in the bush under a piece of plastic for protection. Stella’s sister, Doreen (in the picture), was separated from the family when the rebels came. The rebels took their truck and ran over her body repeatedly and left her for dead. Two days later the family found her. Doreen cannot walk or do anything on her own, but amazingly no internal organs were damaged. She has no joints left and her bones have fused together. She needs replacement surgery on both ankles, both elbows, both hips, both wrists, and both knees. She is coming today to have new x-rays taken and they will be shown to doctors in the states in hopes that they will take on her case. There is a family ready and willing to host her if she comes to the States for the surgeries. She is 17yrs old and is a very smart girl. She teaches school everyday from 1pm-5pm to the village children that can’t afford the school fees. She then tutors the older children after they come back from school. I cannot imagine the horror and terror that Doreen has experienced in her short life. And yet, she is resilient. She is wise beyond her years. She is beauty beyond compare when she smiles. She lives and here that is the biggest weapon these people possess. Living despite the many obstacles they face that scream at them to give up and lie down…but they live.

We arrived at work last week and found out that one of the worker’s brother’s was murdered the night before. As we found out more of the story it turns out that he had murdered his wife and the village came and macheted him and threw him into the fire. There were no police to call. This is justice here in Africa.

Jean, one of the workers with the babies, is in her late 20s. She is full of spunk and is a lot of fun to be around. She has some markings on her face. I found out yesterday how she got them. She was a part of the genocide that took place in Rwanda. She is Tutsi and she saw both of her parents murdered in front of her eyes. How she got away, is a miracle in and of itself.

I am humbled and burdened by these stories. I feel an incredible responsibility to give voice to their stories, and yet I feel so unworthy to hear their pain and struggle. I have never know tragedy or pain like this before and yet somehow I am blessed to have the privilege to laugh and love and serve these incredible brothers and sisters of mine.

I have included pics of (Left to Right) Mommy Joy, Mommy Norris, and Mommy Kavina. These are the necklace makers here at Welcome Home. Thanks to many of you for your interest in selling these necklaces. I bought 400 from them today to send back to the States tomorrow. They were all hugging and kissing me and sending their greetings and thanks to all of you for wanting them. Mommy Joy will not have to worry about getting her meds. Mommy Norris will be able to put all 14 children that are under her care (her brother passed away and she now raises his kids) through school. Mommy Kavina will be able to put 8 kids through school. They will all have the money for transport to get home to see their families. As it is now, they live here in town and are able to make it home only twice a year to be with their families.

Some of the proceeds will go to help with the medical needs that present themselves at our gate everyday. We will be able to cover surgeries for children and adults alike. We will be able to pay for ongoing medications that are needed but not affordable by many in this community. We will be able to cover the transportation costs to get people that are critical to the large hospital in Kampala. The money will go a long way here in Jinja and lives will be changed for the better as a result.

The stories are plentiful, the rest, as of now, is limited. We did have the opportunity to go on Safari this past weekend. We traveled about 9 hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park. From our lodge we could see Zaire/the Congo and Rwanda. Idi Amin and his soldiers devastated the park during the end of his reign. They went into the parks and machined gunned down all of the animals they could find. Destruction for destruction’s sake. We were still able to see 2 lions and hippos, waterbucks, water buffalo, a lot of beautiful birds, baboons, and a herd of elephants. We had scary close calls with a Mama Elephant and a baboon. But…we are all alive and well, so that is good :o) It was fun riding on top of the vehicle going 40mph down the road and waving at all the kids on the roadside shouting out “Mzungo, Mzungo” which means “White person, White person!”

We had a big Welcome Home Party last night for all of the workers and children. The workers got gifts and a raise. The kids got special treats including cupcakes! There were balloons, party hats, lots of singing and a TON of dancing. It was great to experience the joy and laughter of all those that were there.

It looks like I am going to have plenty of opportunities to put my youth ministry experience into use here. Pastor Robert from the church wants me to meet with his youth director this week to plan some service projects, fellowship gatherings, and some Bible studies. Pastor Timothy from the islands wants me to preach at a youth crusade this Saturday and do some drama. I am praying for incredible insight and wisdom into understanding this culture that I am in. I am grateful that Truth transcends time and culture and look forward to these new experiences.

All in all, life is great here in Jinja. There is much more to share, but it will have to wait for another time. I need to make a run to the bank, kiss some babies and then go downtown for lunch. I hope all is well back home. Until next time…

Sobering Realities

Sobering Realities
September 18, 2007

I am officially a week removed from my life in America. I have settled in well here in Uganda. I have felt very at home here from day one, which has been such a blessing. While I can look at my surroundings and accommodations and joke about it not seeming like Africa whatsoever, I am reminded daily of what makes this place different from what I have called home my entire life.

This is Africa. I have fallen in love with a baby at Welcome Home. Her name is Juliana (she is the one in the picture). Her mother died at childbirth and her father is unknown. I was told by one of the workers that she never smiles for them. Yesterday I was holding her and singing over her. She was smiling and laughing with me…we took a nap together on the trampoline and then I fed her. Later in the afternoon she and I swung on the swings and she held my hand to her face and just smiled. I found out this morning that Juliana is HIV +. There is no telling how long she will live. Young children with AIDS is a newer reality here and therefore they can only guess. Being with her again today brought me to the verge of tears. Such beauty is locked away in her eyes. Such life. I pray constantly over her that the Lord would restore her brokenness, that He would turn her mourning into joy and that acceptance and life would be spoken over this child. I wish you all could hear her laugh and allow for your heart to melt as a result. I am different today for having known Juliana and for having the privilege of making her laugh.



Yesterday I was introduced to paper necklaces. They are handmade in Uganda and are quite beautiful. Some of the Mommies at Welcome Home make them and have them available for sale. I bought from Mommy Joy in the preemie house. Today we had a visitor from the States and I was telling her about the necklaces and she asked to see Mommy Joy’s…Joy had over 50 on her and the visitor offered to buy them all. They sell for 3000shillings which is about $1.75/each…Joy would receive 90.000shillings if all would sell. Joy couldn’t believe it. The biggest smile spread across her face. I went with her into the back bedroom and she asked if it was for real, would she really buy all of them…when I replied yes, Mommy Joy had tears in her eyes put her hands in the air and repeatedly cried “God, God...this is God, He is so Good”…I do not know why I was so blessed to be a part of that moment, but I was and I will never forget it. It is all the more special after knowing Mommy Joy’s story.

This is Africa. Mommy Joy was married for a long time but was never able to have children. Her husband gave her HIV and kicked her out of the house. She had nowhere to go and had AIDS…she found work at Welcome Home in the Preemie House and when she got there she immediately smiled and said that the Lord had blessed her with many babies. She makes the necklaces by hand at night after her shift in order to cover the cost of her medicines. Her selling those necklaces today means that she will not have to worry about affording her meds for a long time. Mommy Joy’s personality fits her name. I have enjoyed my time so far getting to know her.


This is Africa. Beauty wrapped in pain and hardship, disappointment and bitterness, all wrapped in beauty once again. You would never know the pain Joy has looking at her but it is there, it is a part of her and yet she has chosen Joy and to live no matter the circumstance or situation. I am living in a country that is filled with resilient people. All have been affected by the war in one way or another. All are affected by the AIDS epidemic. And yet, all that have crossed my path are strong beyond my comprehension, loving beyond my understanding, and fighting a fight that many would have checked out on rounds ago.

While I find my heart to be breaking here in the sobering reality of this place, at the same time I find that it is slowly being put back together. I have so long fell victim to the urgent, to the need of getting things done and the constant demands upon my time. So much so that I have begun to stray from my first love. I am discovering that love again here in this place. A place where I can spend my days rocking babies to sleep and causing Juliana to laugh and find myself fulfilled beyond description.

I was reading yesterday about deserts and how Scripture often uses the desert to represent a place of transition and/or testing. It was often a place where God’s people were challenged to obey and to trust God to lead them into the land of promise. My life since January has fit this description. Ever since I first began praying about coming here I have been in a “desert.” The crazy thing is that I haven’t felt dry or empty in fact I have felt the complete opposite. I realized last night why. One of my gifts is Faith, and while I used it often at home, it is used in a deeper way here. This desert time has allowed me and required me to rely upon that gift. It took Faith to leave a perfectly wonderful job that I loved and a ministry full of people that I care deeply about. It took Faith to trust that the Lord would meet the goal of $20,000 for this trip (Update: I received a call when I was in London from a family pledging the $500 that remained to be raised…so, the goal is officially met!!!), it took Faith to leave what was familiar and come to a foreign land trusting and believing that somehow this would all make sense and that He really was preparing the way in advance for me. I have become more fully who I was made to be as a result of this journey simply because my gift of Faith has been used.

This is Africa. She is beautiful. She is hard. She is already beginning to change me for the better.

First days in Uganda.



After 3 days of traveling we have made it to Uganda! We lost 3 of our bags and had extra time at the airport. Mandy (the director of the orphanage) had connections with one of the customs agents, Joyce. What a beautiful, kind, genuine woman. She got us through customs saving us around $600.

Uganda isn’t the “Africa” I was expecting. It is very lush and green. Kampala is a huge city and we spent some of the afternoon stuck in traffic. We exchanged our money and I became an instant millionaire…four times over. We ate lunch at the local mall…I know, right, where am I? The town of Jinja is incredible. The orphanage is 2 blocks from “downtown.” There is an internet café, post office, a few banks, lots of shops and restaurants. It is very “modernized” and easy to get around. In just a few days I feel very at home here.



Afterwards we went to the international hospital to check-in on one of the babies. Little Seth wasn’t expected to be alive today and yet he is a fighter and keeps hanging on and improving every day. His mother went crazy and didn’t feed or take care of him at all when he was born. He came to the orphanage incredibly malnourished and has been in the hospital for 3 days now. Please pray for his continued healing.


We received a very warm welcome when we got to Welcome Home. The kids are AMAZING. Within seconds they were in my arms and laughing and smiling…kids taking turns being held, wrapping their little arms tight around my neck…it took seconds for my heart to melt for them all.

We are staying at Arise Africa. It is one of the former homes of the evil dictator Idio Ammin. It is a beautiful place now run by a national missionary. It is a Christian home and it has been fun meeting those that are staying here. Ashley is here from S. Carolina and is doing an architecture internship. Pastor Rick is from Virginia and is here with Mission Link. I had an incredible conversation with him about ministry and passions and purpose. It was encouraging to both of us. The room is beautiful. I am not roughing it what so ever! I have a queen size bed and Tiffany has a twin (she offered, I promise :o) ). We have closet space, shelves, 2 small tables, a bath tub, running water, HOT water!!! The list goes on.



The food here is incredible. So far I have had a cheeseburger, fish sticks, chips (French fries), tilapia, an Indian Chicken dish, lots of pineapple (best I’ve ever tasted)…not a lot of traditional Ugandan food yet, I’m sure that will come soon. I’ll let you know if I still think that the food is incredible then.

Today, Friday the 14th, we had a full day with the kids. I spent a lot of time in the preemie house. I gave baby massages, changed diapers, fed them bottles, and rocked babies to sleep in my arms. Many were abandoned by their families, left to die when they were brought to Welcome Home. It was a joy being with them today.

I also got to sit in on 2 Bible Classes with the older children. We played instruments and danced all the while I had 3-4 kids at a time fighting for my lap. We learned about King Samuel and his wisdom today. Great fun. It was nice enough this afternoon to play with kids in the yard. Total controlled chaos. Both Tiffany and Nick were peed on today, I somehow managed to avoid that:o)…I’m sure that won’t last long. I have become “Mommy Rachel” to 55 children in a matter of one day. I am never without a child in my arms. I LOVE IT.




It looks like I will begin doing a lot of work with the village ministries and the youth there. I’m supposed to meet and talk with the youth director from Welcome Home in the next few days.

Thanks again to all of you for getting me here and for all of your prayers that are keeping me here. I have had no problems adjusting and have experienced great favor with the people here. I already have 3-4 new “Best Friends.” I can’t wait to see what all the Lord has in store for me in this beautiful place. I’m just taking it all in right now and enjoying every minute. More updates to come!

PS: This morning as I was getting ready in the bathroom there was a lizard in the sink. Not something that you see everyday in America…so I let him be hoping he would be gone when I returned in the evening…he wasn’t. So Tiff and I tried to scare him out of the sink only to find that he was dead! How a dead lizard got into my sink I will never know…but brave me picked that thing up, went to Nick’s room and threw it on him…Fun times!

Next Stop: UGANDA

I have no idea what time it is at the moment. I’ve been in and out of sleep for 2 days now and the time keeps changing. I do know that in under 2 hours I will be boarding the plane here in London and arriving tomorrow morning in Uganda!

The time so far has been restful and full of mini-adventures. We had approx. 20 Mormons on our flight who are headed to Africa for their 2-year mission. They will be working in Uganda and Ethiopia. We got to know a few of them a little as they were sitting in front of us on the plane. It will be interesting to see if our paths cross again.

We have been at Heathrow Airport for a little over 10 hours now. Praise the Lord for “quiet sitting rooms.” We were able to pull chairs together and get “good” rest off and on all day. Things are definitely more expensive here in the UK. Tiffany and I shared a lunch of spaghetti and salad and paid $40 for it. It was really good spaghetti:o)

We have been hanging out with a guy named Koren. He is from Nepal and is a world champion judo fighter. He is on his way now to Brazil to compete on the 14th for a chance to be in the 2008 Olympics. According to him, I look as though I belong in Nepal. It has been great fun talking with him and sharing stories back and forth. He is Hindu. It has been a joy getting to know him.

We have met up with Mandy, the director of the orphanage and her traveling companions: Val and Brad (they will be there for 2 weeks). It is going to be an amazing trip! My excitement is beginning to grow as our time to be there draws closer. I’m glad for that. I feel that as time and distance begin to separate me from America, the more I am able to focus on what it is the Lord has for me in Uganda. He is undeniably calling me there and He has faithfully paved the way and gone before me. I’m looking forward to meeting Him in the faces of the little ones that I will hold. I’m looking forward to being able to quiet my heart from the urgent and the pressing needs of fulltime ministry and rediscovering my first love. While the schedule will be full, it will be a different kind of full and I’m longing for that right now. Well…I should be getting to where I am going. Blessings to you all.

The Power of Story

The concept of story has been rattling around in my head for several months now. More and more I am becoming convicted that I need to devote time to learning and listening to other’s stories. I have seen first hand how listening to one’s story can give that individual worth and dignity and value, a feeling of importance, knowing that they matter, while at the same time have it begin to change my natural tendencies of summing people up with a glance and assuming that I know why they are how they are.

Stories begin to make crisis and disasters personal. The plight of the suffering and hurting is overwhelming and the needs at times are deafening to the point that one becomes paralyzed in how to help. But, when you meet someone who is suffering, when you listen to their story…the hurt and pain for you begins to have a face and a name. You humanize once again the tragedies that surround us.

I met Tyrone last December at a soup kitchen in New York. He had just finished his fourth plate of food when I sat down to talk with him. In a 45 min. conversation I found out about his childhood, going back and forth between foster homes. I learned that he left home at 16 and traveled to Indiana to work for the oil refineries. I discovered that he used to make a living driving a truck but lost his job due to a misunderstanding and was now without his trucking license, without a job, and without a home. Tyrone and I laughed together and joked around. Something that I have always known logically was made real to me that day: No one wakes up and decides to be homeless. No one aspires to homelessness and no one deserves to be homeless. My life has been very different from Tyrone’s, I wonder if I would have the strength to smile and laugh as he did if the roles would have been reversed.

In April I met a man named Ken down in New Orleans. He lost everything to Katrina. His family had all passed away prior to the storm and he literally had nothing. We met him when our group went to gut a few homes in his neighborhood. He was staying in a FEMA trailer with no water and no electricity. He still owned the family home but it was completely gutted and not livable. When I met him there was a shyness about him and tears in his eyes. He told us what had happened and we prayed. I gave him my bible and while it was a nice gesture and we could have left feeling okay about ourselves, it wasn’t enough…Ken was still in tears, still broken. My job that day was to pray through the neighborhood with some students. So we decided to invite Ken to come along and tell us all he knew about the neighborhood that he grew up in all his life. While he was reluctant at first, he was quickly persuaded and in the next 2 hours I saw transformation take place in the life of Ken. By the end of our time together he was telling jokes and funny stories. He was interacting with the students and smiling. We gave him some candy and water as Easter gifts and set up an Easter Egg Hunt strategy for him. We prayed again as a large group and the students began to load the bus. Ken pulled me aside before we left and said that we were the first people that had ever prayed for him and taken the time to listen to his story. He said that for the first time in over a year, he knew that there was hope.

The power of story for me lies in the fact that when we understand people’s stories we can better understand how to respond. I think so often in our Christian circles we are quick to offer a prayer and a verse and then go on our way…and while there is nothing wrong with either, at times I wonder if it is best. Jesus was a master at knowing how to respond. To the leper He offered touch and with that touch communicated more worth and acceptance than mere words ever could. To the widow at Nain, He offered his tears. To the crowd of 5000 He offered food. To the lame man at the Pool of Bethsaida He offered strong questions of challenge... He listened first to their need and responded appropriately.

I leave for Uganda in 3 days to attempt to train my heart to listen first to stories. I go with a desire to love and serve people well. I am going to hold babies and play hopscotch with children and my expectation is that I will meet Jesus there. I expect to meet him in the villages and walking along the road. My hope is that I will be different as a result of my time in Uganda. My prayer is that I would be more compassionate and more loving. I hope to learn better how to serve others well. I hope to rediscover my first love and take advantage of being truly dependent on Him again. I hope to laugh a lot. I hope to have incredible stories. I hope to cry and to feel. I hope to be changed.