Thoughts from Charity

Thank you, Charity, for this beautiful summation of your experiences in Uganda:

Where to begin? I will try to put the trip into words, although the words and photos do no justice to how amazing the experience itself was.

First of all, I cannot wait to go back. I absolutely fell in love.

I have never been to a place that felt like home so quickly. Ugandans adopt you as family right away. The people are the most inviting, gracious, giving, hopeful, and joyful people I have ever encountered. I feel blessed for meeting every person I did because you really learn what it means to live a content and joy-filled life. I know that every person I spoke with was chosen by God, you cannot walk away from anyone without learning something from them.

The living conditions are heart wrenching, especially in the slums. But that is where I saw Jesus the most. They are lucky if they can get clean water. They are lucky to find a bathroom. They are lucky if they can pay school fees, and even luckier if they can afford the uniform and shoes to attend class. The list goes on. Every day needs that are so attainable for us are not for these people, but they still sing to God louder than I have ever heard. They can still celebrate and dance in God's goodness for He will provide. They laugh with no inhibitions. They pray with faith and hope knowing that God hears them. Everything they have, even if it seems little to us, they attribute to God.

It is a love-hate relationship. You love the people and how God is moving in that place, but you detest the way they government leaves these people in the most desperate and destitute situations. It breaks your heart to see how satan has a hold on so many of their lives, but God is mighty to save and has His hand on those who love and call out to Him. And the anger you experience, I think, is a righteous anger though; knowing that every human is a child of God and deserves to be treated and treasured like one.
Despite the hardships and desperate situations you encounter, you experience a level of hope, joy, and grace that I did not think possible. I learned to love in a way I did not know I could. In every smile you see Jesus. There is just a simple and pure love, joy and hope they have that is contagious. You look around and almost cry thinking this is what heaven will be like: singing your heart out to praise God, dancing, even if you are uncoordinated because God's goodness makes you want to get up and celebrate, laughing without inhibitions, with my brothers and sisters in Christ. The best way I could sum up the entire experience is this: I fell in love and had my heart broken in the same moment and it changes how you live your life forever, and I thank God for every moment

As written by Charity