a day in Uganda

Today was a hard day emotionally. Everyone on the team shared an honest range of emotions and feelings felt throughout the day: joy, fear, sadness, overwhelming thoughts, stress, tears and laughter. We started our drive to Ekisa - which means grace. Emily and Emily (the two young ladies that started the ministry) seem too young to have something so magnificent. And, yet, as we met one Emily, it was evident that she was doing what God intended.

She has started a special needs orphanage. Right now, there are 13 children. 13 children that are loved individually all day. The vision that God gave these young ladies goes far beyond just taking care of orphans with special needs. They have hired a staff of approximately 20 adults that are all handicapped. They have hired people that would not have jobs otherwise. They provide transportation for the staff and meals and their children are able to go with them when needed.

As a result of this awesome vision, all the people living in the home and working in the home are blessed. As a result of this vision instilled by our Creator, we are able to see the children and staff at Ekisa from God's perspective. The team realized through an emotional group time that God is more evident at Ekisa. Some would look and question God but we were able to be present with the awesome 100% evidence that God is real and that everything has a purpose to glorify Him even when we can't make sense of it all.

Steven is doing great. He still can't communicate fully with us but he can laugh and love and kiss our cheeks. We met him at Amani and now he and Debra and Jason are at Ekisa doing awesome. Debra is great. She knows her name when she is called and smiles as we hold her. Jason runs to us as he wakes up from nap reminding us all of the God that wants us in relationship with His people. Rachel cannot walk but never appears sad. She laughs as we play London Bridge and we are reminded that God is real. One little boy gave us such sweet joy as he mimicked everything we said while another little boy kicked a soccor ball and made us teary. His name is Walter and he should not be alive. His mother poured acid on him when he was a child and while it is hard to see the purpose in this extreme sad situation, we see God when he laughs and smiles at Ekisa. He is loved. All the children at Ekisa are loved and well taken care of and today was a great day for the team. We are looking forward to going back.

We did a few minor projects for Ekisa - cleaning out a shed, organizing shelves in the kitchen, trying to repair a wheelchair, etc. But, the truth is they didn't need us - they honored us by allowing us to work for them. The real project that God intended was to teach us today that all His people are the same - we all just need love.

We ended our night with an African Choir that was performing downtown Jinja. They were so joyful and full of the Lord. The choir praised God and made us realize that our God is so awesome and full of personality. When we left dinner to head to the concert, we were emotionally drained and God provided us with a way to laugh and sing and dance tonight.

Travel Day of Uganda

Today was the first day in Uganda - after 17 hours on the plane - we were ready to crash in the hotel last night. This morning, the bus picked us up to travel the 2-1/2 hours to Jinja from Entebbe - and we had a flat. Normally, this is a very frustrating time - flat tires - however, we found joy in this particular flat tire. Joet - the bus driver was so joyful and kind and made us all feel so safe. His perspective on the event was one that we could all learn from.

We also met the family that lived right next to where the flat occurred. The ladies brought their baby to show us and although there was a language barrier, there was no barrier when we took photos of them. They were laughing at their pictures and so excited about the pictures of the baby. Maybe it was the first time they had seen their baby in a photograph. Regardless, they were elated to see the photos and thrilled to laugh a few minutes with the girls.

Simplicity is the word that kept coming to the team's minds tonight. Everything here seems more simple. Simple in a good way. There are no distractions here that we normally have back in the states. As we walked to town, the children would run over and smile and say hello and hold our hands. It is funny to hear them yell "muzungu" which means "white person". They are receiving and welcoming.

God showed up in a big way today to all of us. He showed us that in a very short time, one can grow very fond of His people in a different environment and that no matter what the circumstances, we are all the same needing a saviour that created us all.

We are a small team in Uganda but we believe that we can do BIG things because of God and we are most excited to see where He leads as we continue our journey tomorrow in a special needs orphanage.

We are hopeful that we will see everything in the right perspective as our bus driver did (in God's perspective). We were reminded during devotion tonight that as poor as the people of Uganda seem, they have the stars at night to light up their yards, Lake Victoria and the Nile River, Rainforests and mountains to view His beautiful creation, and that joy comes from the heart. That no matter what one's circumstances are, choosing God's perspective is always the best way.

Reflections from Emily and John regarding Honduras

Any parent trying to raise children today can attest to what a challenge it is - with ever developing technology that inhibits face-to-face communication and a sense of entitlement that seems to creep in no matter what efforts we make - how do we make sure our children become adults that understand the true meaning of life - and value what is important versus the accumulation of more stuff?

We decided this was the summer to do something more radical - not your typical summer vacation. We prayed about what we could do together as a family - and HEAL ministries was our answer. Our family of 4 embarked on a journey with Tina and 7 other amazing people that will provide us with a lifetime of memories that will forever be ingrained in our hearts.

We had no idea nor any expectations of what the experience would provide for us - we simply prayed for open hearts and an experience that would be life-changing. And boy did God deliver!

Our kids learned how to work up a sweat in service (without complaining) and how to operate as a team (they had some fantasic role models in 7 CPA high schoolers/new grads). They experienced how the heart can love someone after just one encounter, and how to identify "God moments" in the everyday. They now understand that laughter is universal - the same thing that makes a child in the U.S. laugh, also makes a child in a Spanish speaking country laugh. You don't have to understand a language to form a connection - and the simplicity of blowing bubbles or kicking a soccer ball can bring much more happiness and joy than an ipad, psp, or wii.

We as parents learned - that the love of a parent is universal - and that ultimately there is no doubt that we exist for relationship with each other and with God. We learned that God is a father to the fatherless and that our "family" extends well beyond the boundaries of our given family, our given community, or even our given country. Even with the challenges of language barriers, we found family in Honduras and family in the team of people with whom we served - a family that we will see again - not just on this earth but in eternity. How exciting that is!

We are so grateful to have had this opportunity and for the supporters "back home" who help make this possible. "Service" is so ironic as those that "serve" are as equally blessed as those who were served.

Emily and John Leonard

Reflections from Hannah.......

First going into the trip, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. All I knew to do was to hope for the best, but what I got instead was so much more than I could have ever thought possible. Bonds were made with team members, staff members, and children, but also with Honduras itself. The country and its people as a whole are a blessing and a privilege to be apart of and I feel like they impacted me more than I was capable of impacting them. It’s curious how God uses us to bless one another, and when he does there’s not a better feeling in the world, even if it’s just an unexpected smile, a hug, or tiger puppet craft.

Although this HEAL Ministries trip was the best trip I’ve ever been on, it was also the hardest to say goodbye to. One week just isn’t gonna cut it next year. You fall in love with the colors, the constantly changing sky, the people and so much more that leaving it behind doesn’t feel natural. I don’t want to wait a whole year before going back! Honduras brought me closer to God and gave me a knew perspective on what I should do/ how I should live my life. The experiences and lessons of going to Honduras were like squeezing toothpaste out of the tube; once it’s out you cant put it back. Now that I’ve gone and learned all that I have, I know I can only go up from here.

-Hannah Ruff

Reflections by Alice - a team member

The story of our trip to Honduras is really a two-sided one, written on opposite pages yet each reflecting the other. On one side of the page is the story of La Providencia: the staff, the families and their children and the school. What an amazing story it is. We were all in awe of the passion, the dedication and the love these people had for each other and their mission. Our team immersed itself in the daily life of the orphanage and school and soon found itself caught up in this same passion. It was contagious! The time we spent with the children was, of course, the most satisfying. Their smiles, laughter and unconditional love touched every nerve of our bodies. Talking to and getting to know the staff and foster parents however, proved equally as uplifting and at times humbling. Their stories and witness are a powerful testament to God’s grace and faithfulness. The reality of the many obstacles this project faces, though, was not lost on us either. The abject poverty in which most of the school children live in, the emotional and mental scars left on the orphans by abandonment, and the lack of funding in order to address these issues speared us to the core, making the whole book of James relevant and urgent.

The other side of the page tells the story of our small team, especially the kids, and how incredibly responsive they were not only to the task at hand but to each other also. The ages ranged from 10 to 50 but you would have thought they were family and not individuals thrown together by a mission trip because of the way HEAL brings the team together every morning and every night to reflect. As the days passed the bonds grew stronger. They were kind to each other, patient and accepting; they teased, played, laughed and cried, allowing themselves to be vulnerable and open. Every night they brought their experiences and feelings of the day to the devotional, and somehow what they experienced and felt was reflected in the way they treated each other. They embodied the truth that by serving others and loving each other, we love and serve God.

So those are the two sides to our mission story. We were all touched and changed by La Providencia and I would like to think that we left an impression on them too, even if it was fleeting. I do know that the love was real, and in the end that is what really matters.

Reflections by: Alice Jones - Toledo