Just a Little Update

On Tuesday, we climbed the Tororo Rock (aka huge mountain) with about 20 of the kids from Smile. Let me tell you, it was quite the hike! It was only a 2 1/2 mile climb, but it was SO steep. At some parts, there were even ladders provided so you could get up. Many of the kids didn't even have shoes when climbing... I don't know how they did it. It felt like quite the victory when we actually reached the top, and the kids really enjoyed it... so it was well worth the hike!

Today, as well as going to Smile, we went to a women's prison with Pastor Amos. There were only 16 women in the prison, and six of them had a child with them. We had a sweet time of singing, praying, and sharing a message with them. We talked about the message of the Bible... sharing about sin, God's love, and salvation through faith. It was very good, and next week, we will be doing the same thing at another prison... only that prison has about 400 inmates instead of 16. As we were leaving the prison, there was a woman singing "Above All" and I joined her in singing. It was just such a sweet thing: two women, both sinners, saved by grace, praising the Lord.

Smile has been great. There are times where all I want to do is hug the children, love them, and take them home with me. But honestly, there are also times where I don't want the kids to braid my hair into knots or I want them to quit touching my camera! There are times when a little boy will hold up his arms and say, "beba me" (hold me), and I look down and see a naked little boy covered in dirt, throw up, snot, pee, and spit... and I don't want to touch them. However, that's when Christ's love overcomes, and I am able to embrace them fully. I think it's such an image of what God does for us. He sees us, covered with all our poop, pee, dirt, etc., yet He picks us up, embraces us, and loves us even through our sin. However, unlike me, He does not hesitate in picking us up, but embraces us fully without any hesitation.

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." -2 Corinth. 12:14