Another Full Day...Monday....

Before blogging about the wonderful and challenging day we had today, please be encouraged to make some kind of comment just to let us know that we are not alone here and that someone is actually reading our blog. Thanks!!!
(Sorry so few photos tonight...I have spent nearly two hours uploading photos and they just won't go, exept these two. Maybe we will have a better connection tomorrow.)
In one of the photos you will see myself and the pastor of the Wototo church in Gulu.
This morning we had a great devotional time where Christine shared more of her personal story with the staff and us, and how God “…opened a door of hope in the valley of Achor…” for her in her pain and loss, as it says in Hosea 2. Following devotions we headed out to “Opit,” a village in the bush that was completely overrun by the LRA and devastated through many murders, rapes and child abductions. As we were pulling out of the driveway with the van, unfortunately a couple of boys tried to catch a ride on the back of the van by grabbing onto the ladder. Unbeknownst to us one of the boys who had jumped on, had fallen of and badly hurt himself. We continued into town not having any idea he lie bleeding on the ground. Once we reached the market where we purchased some beans and rice for the village children of Opit, someone had followed us from the scene of where the boy had fallen and told us what had happened. We immediately traveled back home instead of going to Opit to see if the boy was still there. When we returned the uncle of the boy told us they had transported him to the hospital. We then went to the hospital, and arrived at something that looked more like a garage than a hospital. Christine & Mike went inside to see the boy and the parents. The boy had fallen down struck his head on the ground and knocked out his front four teeth, with some cuts and bruises. It happened to be a hospital where the poor people go who have no money and Christine said the conditions were deplorable and beyond description. People were lying all over the floor with all sorts of infirmities, and not receiving any attention…and of course no AC. This is one example of how we are relying on your prayers for support and protection.
Following this setback we left for Opit about 3 hours late, arriving in Opit around 2pm. In Opit we sat with Pastor James as he shared his story of coming back to his home village after studying near Kampala and pastoring for a brief time in Gulu. Though the city had been decimated, God had given him a vision to purchase two oxen and some land to begin producing all sorts of fruits and vegetables to be sold at the market. Also, the land could be used to support many, many orphans as well as teach them a skill of how to support themselves. Pastor James showed us the two huts where the ten children live that he and his wife adopted right behind his little rented space. Pastor James told us of many “child-led” homes, where children are raising children in and around Opit. We went to an area where there were some child-led homes, and on the way there we stopped by a school to pick up two of the children. I got out of the van for a break and you will see in one of the pictures the children, as they were getting out of school gathered around to see the muzungo, white person. We were way out in the bush, so these children had seen very few muzungos in their life, if any.
We traveled back to Opit to bring Pastor James home, and there was a woman across the street sitting on the ground with a very sick baby and no way to get to a hospital. We decided to take her and her baby to a Gulu hospital where he could receive medical attention. He had a horrible cough, and we think he probably had TB. We arrived back in Gulu after dark and took the Mama and the baby to the hospital.
It was a very full day with sights of so many children some with hope and seemingly others with no hope. In one of the pictures, you will see a little girl who has been adopted by Pastor James, and it is obvious that she is in pain. She could not look at us, and seemed so pained and hopeless. Though it’s only Monday, from the sights we saw as well as Pastors James story and vision, I cannot see how we could ever be the same. Most of us in the West have no idea how much suffering, ceaseless labor, limited freedoms and recurring hunger & thirst most people in the world live with continuously. As you look into the eyes of the children and adults all you can sense is the PROFOUND love of God for each one and His passion for each of them to know Him and experience His goodness. Though their circumstances may not change immediately, the peace and healing the Holy Spirit can bring to their hearts and souls despite their conditions is a very real and present help in their time of trouble. This is the testimony of so many we have spoken to. The grace of God is more than sufficient to heal their hearts, and give them a sense of hope and purpose in their suffering.
We Love & Miss You All So Much,
Lac