See you someday, JOAC!

Sunday morning Joy of a Child enjoyed a great breakfast of mandazi and tea. At breakfast I asked who was going to be sharing for our service, and David responded, "You!" I wasn't surprised as it is my last Sunday here, but it still made me laugh.  I went to my room and asked God, "Lord, what should I talk about?" And he responded, "Encourage them as they have encouraged you." So I opened the Bible to Ephesians and picked out some verses to encourage them with.  I also wrote down some things that I have learned from them since I have been there to accurately describe the kind of lifelong blessing they have all been to my life. As the service began, Patrick reminded me that I was supposed to help lead worship.  Worship is much different here than in the states... so I was really nervous.  I made a fool of myself, but at least a fool for Christ. All the kids will deny that, but I messed up a lot, but they're gracious so I got over the embarassment quickly.  Every service there is also a Sunday school lesson that one of the kids prepare.  This week it was Junior's turn.  He shared his testimony, and it was really emotional. He said one day he saw a man killed in an alley, and went home to his mom to report it.  With tears in his eyes, he repeated his mom's response of, "I wish you had been the one to be killed."  Can you imagine the damage to that little soul? It was that VERY week that David found him and provided him with clothes, food, and a place to live.  How amazing? He shared a verse that says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight" (Prov. 3:5-6). What a testimony! I was blown away by the maturity in his voice and the hope he brought to the people at church.  After that, David shared that it was my last Sunday at JOAC children's Church.  He began to talk about how I had been a blessing to their home, and I began to weep.  They have been a blessing to me! I felt so encouraged, but also torn up because of the pain I felt about leaving so soon.  It's going to be hard, but I believe God will give me the grace to endure. I shared about how JOAC has taught me what love means, how to be thankful, and to value each moment without thinking of the next (I still struggle with these things, but I definitely feel like they have given me a great example of how to better implement these practices in my life). After church, we enjoyed the hot sun with water gun tag, dancing, and loud music.  Shivan brought out her suitcase of clothes and began passing them out to Afusa and another little girl that joined us for the morning service. It was so sweet; she was such a cheerful giver, and rejoiced when things fit her friends. After dinner, I led a drumming excersize using the kitchen table as our instrument.  We all laughed a lot and made a ton of noise.  I enjoyed it so much; I could never grow old of the smiling faces of these little ones. Every Sunday we go around and talk about what we learned at church, and it was so encouraging to witness the boys talking about how Junior's testimony touched and blessed them.  David, Esther, and Joseph talked about my testimony, and really encouraged me.  Esther said that I have been a blessing to their home and God has really used me.  I have learned, since I have been here, that words of affirmation mean a lot more to me than I ever thought.  I was so blessed by her words. 

Monday I woke up to a gift from Esther.  She is an incredibly talented craft-maker. She presented me with a really elegant ivory bracelet with many layers.  It's beautiful.  Then (AND HERE IS THE GREAT NEWS) I was able to tell Ruth that I have enough money left over to send her to school!  So, donors: THANK YOU!!! You have blessed me, and you have blessed this young woman.  She is SO excited to go to school, and wrote me and David a letter saying, "I will do well in school because I will be going in the name of God."  I am so impressed by her, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for her future.  Right now, I have committed to sending her to finish primary school, but Lord willing I can see her to the finish of Secondary so she can move on to be a teacher, like she hopes.  She is so bright, and I am so thankful that I can be a part of her life-not just for a summer, but hopefully for a lifetime.  We went to town afterwards because I had to do some errands (run to the bank, buy some gifts and tea, and get soda with Danelle to celebrate the 4th of July together). I told Esther I wanted to buy her a phone and she was so appreciative, that when we reached her store she gave me ANOTHER bracelet.  I love them both, but this one is special because it reminds me of a bracelet my mom wore. She also took me to a seamtress to get fitted for a real African dress.  It is supposed to be ready Tuesday, so I am really looking forward to seeing it! We returned back to the JOAC house for lunch and our Bible study.  I have really enjoyed studying the book of John because over and over we are reminded that believing in TRUTH will set us free and bring eternal life.  I think the girls have really grasped this concept, and that is worthwhile to me. After our study the boys started trickling in, and Ruth began to bang on the drum and lead us in some songs and dances. It's such a joy for me to watch the kids enjoying the drum. Then we had dinner, and then I led a Bible study because David said, "We want to get everything from you before you leave." I don't feel like I have much to offer, even in the final days, but somehow God always shows up in those moments.  I shared from Philippians 4:4-9, which without knowing is the theme verse of JOAC.  When I found out, the verses became even more powerful and important to me.  "Always be full of joy-again I say it rejoice." I love that.  The rest of the passage talks about how to experience peace we need to pray about everything and fix our thoughts on good things.  I taught them the song "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." The words to that song are extremely powerful to me, and have really helped me see how small I am, and how great our God is. 

Tuesday was Danelle's orientation day and my day to fufill a promise I made to Patrick to visit his school.  We toured around to all the schools that have at least one representative of the Joy of a Child family. The boys felt cool because they got visitors during a normal school day. We did find out though that Shiba had not been attending classes lately.  Instead she was sent to "dig" (farm) for her mother so they could eat.  Her teachers became fed up with her absences and asked for David to come to the school for a visit. At first Shiba wasn't there, and we all talked about an intervention.  We have offered her a place to stay, with food, childcare, and safety, but she chose to move back in with her mother who is an abusive drunk.  (Very) long story short, we finally got Shiba in a meeting with her teachers and I told her the truth about her mom and about the incredible opportunity she has at Joy of a Child to go to school and to feel confident that her child, Kamari, is safe in a loving home while she is learning. That night Shiba and Kamari were safe in their beds at the JOAC house! Praise God.  Her mom is very angry, but unfortunately she will have to live with the consequences of her actions.  She somehow has money to feed her habbit, but doesn't have money for food? It's hard to have patience with people that squander their child's opportunity for success because of selfishness.  When we went to get Shiba from her home I told her mom some of those things, and I told her that I hope she can one day be happy for her daughter. I prayed over her and I truly do wish her the best. When we visited St. Agnes I was able to properly say farewell to Teacher Agatha, the baby class teacher that I worked with. She was absent my last day at St. Agnes because she was at the hospital getting an immunization for her newborn.  She had new hair and a new smile.  It was really great to see her one more time. 

Wednesday is my last full day at the JOAC house. I can't believe this day has actually arrived.  I feel like the last 7 1/2 weeks have gone by so quickly.  I have been so blessed in this home and I have been loved so well.  Today I really wanted to spend the whole day at the house.  I did not want to do any running around; I just wanted to enjoy the compound and the family one more time. The ladies and I went for a run and Ruth and I washed some of my clothes.  Then we all just hung around and waited for the children to come home for lunch.  After lunch, Danelle and I took the girls to Enciche for an afternoon snack (Mandazi and soda). It was such a blessed afternoon with them.  They are such thankful young woman, and I am so glad that I know them and that they have allowed me to be a part of their lives. On the way, we bumped into Shiba's mom outside of a bar.  She turned away from us and hid the alcohol she was drinking under her shirt.  We walked with her to Enciche, and she told us many lies and tried to manipulate me.  I bought her a couple mandazis and told her to go home.  I wanted this time to be for me and the girls.  We all got a mandazi and soda and enjoyed the time spent together.  It was so important for me to find ways to be with them each individually but also make sure I made enough time for them as a group.  We walked back, hand in hand, while laughing and feeling the hot sun warm our bodies.  Soon after it was time to get ready for the big party that evening.  I put on the BEAUTIFUL dress that David and Esther bought me (and had taylored to fit my body exactly), while everyone else ran around getting the house fixed up and the food cooked.  Danelle bought chicken for everyone, I bought icecream, and David and Esther prepared everything else including a lot of food and big cake.  We celebrated Junior and Joshua's birthdays, and the party doubled as a farewell to me.  They blessed me and even mentioned my name on the cake.  They prayed over all three of us, and then we finished the feast and party with dancing for hours.  Though it was a school night the kids had a lot of energy, much more than I have left. I have been dreading this day for days, but I believe God has prepared me throughly for this moment (thank you to those of you that prayed for me).  I am excited for what is ahead, though sad to leave this place, I know God has a plan for my life and future. And, I know I will be back, so that brings some own comfort. 


Thursday: I am about to leave the Joy of a Child household to spend a few days at CLD in Nansana.  I walked each child to the gate and said goodbye this morning.  It feels surreal, but my bags are packed and we are about to jump in the car to catch a bus. I believe God has been preparing my heart to say goodbye...