We are human.

So we have been here for almost 2 weeks, which if you really think about it… is INSANE. And I honestly thought that I was going to be superwoman and not suffer through that little bugger called “culture shock”. And I just can’t explain how wrong I was. It has taken so long to get used to the smells, the sights, the people, everything. Its a constant process. The last few days have been pretty rough with going to a children’s clinic and seeing some of the most heartbreaking sights in my whole life. Also, we have been simply trying to figure out what God would have for us here for the remainder of our time in Uganda. We want so badly to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to this country that it literally hurts our hearts. Over the next two weeks we will be speaking to the high school students every day at lunch, as well as throwing the children a birthday party (those that have birthdays from march-july), painting the dorms, making paper beads with a local artisan, and continuing to love on the children after they get out of school. Please be in prayer that the Holy Spirit will speak through us during these times and more!!!!

One of the biggest blessings we have experienced so far is being at Mark’s apartment, which is 10 steps from ours and our comfort zone. At Mark’s apartment, we cook the majority of our food, meet incredible people from Nkumba, as well as have some of the most inspiring conversations I have been a part of. It is here that we are truly able to sort out what is going on in our heads throughout the day and where we can just sit and laugh about the things that God is allowing us to see. At Mark’s, we are encouraged to just BE Natalia and Melissa with no strings attached.

We are learning more than I could have ever hoped for, I hope that you know. We are learning what it means to feel, act, be, and live simply as what God has called us to. The amount of trust that we have had to muster up and say to God, “Take control” is huge, and it is definitely my biggest struggle in being here so far. I cannot explain the joy that is found in this beautiful country, but also the amount of eye opening experiences that God has allowed us to be a part of… and we are only halfway through our trip! Praise God!

The most important thing that we are learning… is that we are human. We cannot fight the culture shock. We cannot contain the laughter. We cannot suppress the anger from seeing some of the atrocities and hearing about these children’s stories. We cannot contain the excitement from children that we have nicknamed “Peanut”. We cannot fight the tears after hearing how some came to be orphans. But we can hope. We CAN trust. We CAN love these children through whatever means God gives us daily. And for that, we just want to say PRAISE GOD.

Luke 14, verses 15-24 has been a passage that has been wrecking me over the past day. We are called to go to the street corners and alleys and say “YOU ARE INVITED”. These orphans are craving to be wanted, to be valued, and to be known. That is what we are called to! That is the mission of this trip!!! And I just can’t thank Him enough that He would reveal that to us.

THANK YOU for being prayer warriors for the two of us as well as the commuity we are living with. Natalia and I feel the power of your prayers and are so grateful for all of them.

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