The Mile Long Walk.

I just got back my third trip to the village and I have to admit it's growing on me. I'm still struggling with the intense labor aspect, mostly because I didn't really sign up for that, but each trip I understand more and more how much of a difference it makes. On our first day at the village we set up our tents and walked to the well for some slashing. I'm actually glad we did that because after an hour of slashing we were done and made the long walk back to our campsite. On the way back we were all trying to figure out how far the walk was. We all guessed that it was a mile or more. Each time we've gone to the village the wells have been further and further away. It makes me think that the villagers talk and it spreads like wildfire the impact our team can make in just a few short days. After we came back we had lunch and set out on door to door evangelism.

The well before we started slashing. 

Morgan, Leez, and I walked down the road towards the trading center. This is a walk we make at least twice a day each time we visit the village, but we never actually get to stop and speak with the families. The second house we went to was awesome. There were 3 families and they were so hospitable. The children ran to get chairs for us to sit in and we talked with them about how EAC wants to bring a church to the village. The nearest church to the area was miles and miles away. Women had to start walking at 6 am to make it on time. When we told them about our crusade and the plan for the church they literally burst out in a giant cheer! It was an exhilarating way to start our visits. They had been praying for a church to come nearby for a long time and were so thankful for an answered prayer. After we prayed for and with them the women ran inside their houses and came out with so many gifts for us! We were given 3 eggs, fresh from the hen, 3 bushels of bananas and an African pumpkin! It was such a nice gesture considering people in the village don't have much! In their culture it's also very rude to not accept a gift that's given to you; so, although Morgan and I were hesitant to accept this incredibly thoughtful gift we did and walked on to the next house just excited and blown away by their generosity and excitement.

My favorite house, though, was a stop about halfway down. We walked up to a house and 3 friends were sitting outside seeming to have the time of their lives. There were 2 women and 1 gentleman. One of the ladies was wearing an Obama ski hat, which was hilarious because it was 89 degrees outside, but I guess chilly in the shade. Again we mentioned to them our plans to bring a church to Zirobwe and they were excited about our Crusade. When we finished we asked if there were any prayer requests and the lady wearing the ski hat mentioned that she had a prayer request but she was nervous to tell us. I asked Leez what she was saying, because although I couldn't understand I could see the excitement in her eyes. She said that she's getting old and wants a husband to take care of her. After she said it Morgan and I both said "AMINA (amen)" and all of us, including their gentleman friend, burst into laughter! As we left that house Morgan and I talked about how universal it is for woman to pray for husbands!

Day 2 in the village brought a few struggles. We had a few girls on our team sick with a number of different ailments. I timed our walk to the well and it was 17 minutes. We were definitely sure the walk was a mile. It gets exhausting carrying our tools and walking in the heat, but with great company you don't really notice. When we got to the well there were villagers already there working. The great thing about us coming to work on the wells is that we always have villagers eager to jump in and help! It's great because they give us an extra hand, but it also gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Happy face on the way to the well! 

You can see the difference an hour of slashing made.
Starting Day 2 of working on the well!

The tree cut down by the villagers. 

I found a baby turtle in all the mud :) 

This well was deep. I can't even begin to describe how big it was in comparison to the wells we have done the past 2 weeks. It just felt like a huge task. We worked until 11:30 the first day and then walked back to the camp site. I can't describe how much I don't like working all day and then walking home in the heat to sit around a campsite with no shower. I think it's the hardest part of the trip to the villages for me. My parents sent me solar bag showers, but the water in the well we've been using was all dried up. This time we had to take the car and drive to another part of the village to fill up our jerry cans. It wasn't convenient, but at least we had a car. The villagers have to walk so far to fill up their jerry cans when the water is out in their well. It makes me so thankful that all I have to do is walk to my kitchen, here and in the village, and fill up my water bottle to get something to drink.

After this we went to the trading center and had our crusade. It was wonderful because we never get to do programs with parents, just the children. As soon as we started doing praise and worship the clouds opened and rain poured down! The day before we had gone door to door and the people's number 1 prayer request was for rain to help with the crops, which is their main source of income. It rained the whole time! Mostly when it rains everyone goes inside, but people took cover and still stayed around the listen to the message of salvation. One women ran out in the rain and pulled me into her hut, along with the children that I was trying to cover from the rain. I counted and there were 9 adult women and 12 children in her living room, which is maybe the size of my car. It was an incredibly loving gesture. We all listened to the message from the inside of her hut and enjoyed the fellowship so much. Many women, men and children accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior! It was a great way to end our evening.

Barbara came to the Crusade right after school. The baby is Tracy. I prayed over her with her mom because she
is special needs and her mom wanted to pray for her strength because she can't hold her head up on her own. She was
really scared of me at first, but then after I comforted her for a while we became good friends!

Some of the boys looking at one of the bibles we handed out! 

Day 3 was a bigger struggle. About halfway through our day we realized that we were going to have to stay later to finish or come back Friday morning. We all opted to work our hardest until 1:00 and hopefully finish. The hardest part about working the wells is that we have bread and butter for breakfast, so we are so hungry for lunch by 11:30. Well, this day we worked past that and by noon you could sense the change in attitude by everyone. The combination of being annoyed, hot, tired, and hungry just overwhelmed our group. It seemed so easy for everyone to just jump on the bandwagon of negative comments. After maybe 15 minutes of discouraging remarks we quickly realized the words that were coming out of our mouths weren't building anyone up! I left that day so completely discouraged and just questioning my role in the well work. The walk home was a painful one. My feet have never hurt so badly before. I had blisters on my feet, blisters on my hands, mud all over my body, hand't showered in days, hadn't eaten a good meal in hours, and still had a walk a mile home.

Our work is finally done. 

Gross. 

When I got home I immediately ate lunch, bucket showered and spent some time with the Lord. I remembered how difficult we make our lives sometimes, especially when we have expectations for things. I kept reading things in 2 Timothy that reminded me to be strong, endure hardships, etc. Verse 5 of chapter 4 stuck out a little more because it said "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist..." It really stuck out because I was reminded of how there are certain things we may not like about what God has called us to do, but he called us to do it and we should do it with faith and reliance on him! I was enduring hardship and was so mad about being so uncomfortable that I let my selfishness get in the way of glorifying God. I had to remember that every person I saw, met, hugged, smiled to, waved to, helped were all children of God!

With a renewed spirit I joined everyone in the trading center for our program. This was the night I found out about Barbara and her need for a sponsor! I was thrilled. God definitely had been preparing my heart to serve this wonderful girl and her family! If you don't know what I'm talking about read the blog before this one! On top of that excitement more people accepted Christ and the excitement of getting a bible was just amazing! Never in my life have I experienced people so eager to have God's word before. Maybe it's because I've never known what it's like to never have it before. I can go to any store back home and pick up a copy. They don't have that option. Barbara's mother even accepted Jesus and I had the wonderful opportunity to give her a bible in Luganda! She can't read, but Barbara can and will read to her siblings the stories from the Bible.

All in all it was an exhausting, but life changing week. God gave me a renewed heart for his people and the village of Zirobwe and I can't wait to go back and see my girls! I've never been more thankful for the ability to walk and use my feet as an instrument to bring him glory! I never thought I'd love a family more than I love Barbara's family. I never realize how much of an impact someone's smile and hug can make in your life! Although I miss home so much, I am thankful that I get to build relationships with these kids and just love on them! They can't understand a word I say, but they understand the language of love! It's so universal and God's handiwork is all over it!

I will end with my favorite part of my trip. Friday, right before we left, Flex and I went to the school to pay Barbara's school fees. Her sister was at our camp, so Flex told her to go tell Barbara that she can go to school for the rest of the semester. I had just enough, with the help of Amy, to pay for her school fees and her uniform. As we're driving down the dirt road I see 2 little beauties in the distance. Barbara and Immaculate are all dressed up in their new dresses Amy and I gave them and they were walking down the street. Not only did Immacu run home to tell her sister about the fees, but they took their time to look their absolute best when they came to thank me. How incredible is that?! As we get closer I gesture for the driver to stop and Benon tells Barbara in Luganda that her fees have been paid. She comes to my window and graciously kneels and says "Thank you". I tell her that I love her and I will see her soon. As we start to drive off Barbara and Immacu are running after our van, waving their arms in the air, with giant smiles across their faces! For 4 days I longed to be back home in the comfort of my twin size bunk, with my shower, clean clothes, free from well work and at that moment I wished we never had to leave!

Until next time.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your strength and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." Matt 22:37-39