MZUNGU!!!

Continuing on with the street boys from last post...

The Friday after we got there, as you know, we spent time with the street boys for the first time.  As I mentioned before, every day that we spent with the street boys, we would give them something. Friday was Cliff bars. This was our first gift to them and they were ecstatic to the point that when they saw that Mallory had a few extra Cliff bars, they completely mobbed her haha. We had also taught them the parable of the Good Samaritan (the 200 Cliff bars were pretty fitting I would say). While handing out these Cliff bars, I couldn't help but wonder if this had been their only meal for days. It tears your heart to pieces. 

Our van rides were...eventful...and we learned this right away. Whenever we would drive by kids, and sometimes even adults would do this, they would jump up and down, smile and wave, dance, run after us, laugh, point, all of the above, while yelling "MZUNGU!!!" Mzungu means "white skinned." It's not derogatory, it's just their term for white people. I'm pretty sure we were the only white people for miles, so we kinda stand out (and reflect the sun too haha). But to see these kids so excited would put huge smiles on our faces. It was touching to see them jump for joy when we waved and smiled back. By the end of the two weeks, we had grown so accustomed to it that I was concerned that we would do this back in the US too. Imagine just waving and smiling to everyone while you drive around in DC...yeaaaahhh, THAT could get ugly haha. So needless to say, van rides were always a favorite part of my day.

New Life boys' home

That afternoon we spent time with the boys in the home. While the majority of the street boys were younger (4-11 years old), the majority of the boys in the home were older (14-18 years old). The boys' home is an orphanage, although I hesitate calling it that. There are about 41 boys and they share rooms, do chores, learn how to take care of themselves, and are able to go to school. There are multiple homes like this throughout Uganda, this one being called New Life Home. These boys had once been on the street, but were then moved into the home by Abaana (I won't explain that process because it takes way too long). The boys in the home treated us the same way the street boys did: they hugged us, held our hands, sat with us, put their arms around us, etc.. Uganda is the most huggable place I have ever been, and you know me and my hugs, so we get along very well :) When we spent time with the boys in the home, we would hang out for half hour or so, talking with them and getting to know them, and then break up into small groups. We each led a small group, each had about 9 boys in it. We would teach them a lesson from the Bible and talk with them about it.  Then after small group we would all hang out some more, play football, or play some other game. I would like to tell you the stories of a few of the boys.

Emmanuel---Emmanuel is 18 years old and was part of my small group for a while. Although, unlike most 18 year olds, Emmanuel’s body is covered in burns and scars. His story can actually be found here.  As said in his story, when he was on the streets, his friend poured gasoline on him and lit him on fire. Soon after he found the Abaana street reach program and they took him into the home and began his road to recovery that has included multiple surgeries (he has a surgery scheduled for Jan 31^st for his hand, please be praying!).  It has been such a blessing to get to know Emmanuel and to hear his godly insight. One day Emmanuel told me: “my friend lit me on fire and I now have lots of pain every day, but I forgive my friend and I love him.” I can only pray to have a heart like that.

Michelle and me singing with Julius

Julius---Julius was one of the first few boys that I spent time with. He also has an incredible voice and can play guitar. He has an out-of-tune guitar, but makes up his own chords so that an out-of-tune guitar sounds beautiful.  His lyrics that he writes are unique and genuine. He wants to do nothing more than glorify God with this talent.  He has already recorded 2 or 3 songs onto a CD, but unfortunately, recording those songs wiped out his life savings. He would like to record an entire album, but lacks the finances to do it.  Michelle and I spent 2 hours with him one night singing and writing with him and God laid it on our hearts to somehow help him to record his CD.  Spending time with Julius was so beautiful.  He has such a compassionate and caring heart and loves to have those heart-to-heart conversations. 

Ronald, me, and Julius

Ronald---Ronald was one of the boys that taught me one of my biggest lessons about forgiveness. His father and stepmother beat him and told him to leave home and never come back. He tried to go back, but every time he did, he would be beaten more. He was on the streets and went to the Abaana street outreach where he waited patiently to get into the Abaana New Life home. After a few years God answered his prayers and placed him in the New Life home. He was telling me about his family and how it was such an awful situation. But then he said: “It says in 1 John that you can’t love God if you don’t love your brother. My parents hate me, but I forgive them and I love them.” Tears were in my eyes as he was telling me this. What an example of the love of God working in hearts in order to forgive even when forgiving seems crazy. 

Fahad and me

Fahad---Fahad is 17 years old with one of the sweetest hearts I have ever known. I spent a lot of time with him and he was one of the boys I grew closest with and was one of the hardest to leave. He wants to be the first professional football (soccer) player out of the Abaana home, but also wants to go into IT when he is done with school. He has an amazing passion for soccer and plays for Jesus. A quote from him on the second day so really brightened my day. He was comparing the skin color of my arm to the skin color of his arm and he said, "ah, if you spend a month in Africa, you'll be black like me."

Now that I've explained what we spent our days doing, the following posts will be story after story after story of God's goodness and faithfulness.

Nkwagala.