H.E.A.L. TEAM AT AMANI BABY COTTAGE

My top Ten things learned in just two days at Amani Baby Cottage has reminded me of many things and taught me much more.

1) God is God all the time and all the time God is good.

2) God shows up in the smile of a child & the laughter and tears of a baby.

3) God sends angels like the "mommas" to work in an orphanage.

4) The poorest of people are most often the happiest.

5) We get more out of serving others than what they receive from us.

6) We are blessed abundantly and the simple life really IS the best life.

7) God's perfect plan is most revealed through the eyes of an orphan.

8) One's life changes forever by going to Uganda to serve.

9) The happiest people on earth work with "the least of these."

10) We must never forget.

We have had the joy of serving the "mommas" at the Jinja Amani Baby Cottage. Here, we found love. We found that these orphans are not among the least. They are loved by the workers, eat better than American babies, and possibly live in the cleanest environment that I have visited in all the orphanages.

The workers here give new meaning to "work". Momma Sarah known as "Momma Cook" works 7 days a week year-round to cook. She cooks breakfast, lunch and dinner for all 40 - 50 children at the orphanage and cooks enough to feed all 30 workers. She cooks the meals over an open fire and smiles the entire time. That's every day of the year, every year. She does it joyfully. I asked her why she did not take a day to rest and she answered simply, "because they need me and God commanded us to work."

There is a very high adoption rate at this orphanage which is wonderful. The children live there from birth to age five. At five years of age, if they have not been adopted, they go to a different orphanage. There is a boy that lives here named Steven. He is 8 years old and has autism. Because it has been in his best interest to stay in this loving environment, they have allowed him to stay. There are a couple of other children that are older than five with problems as well. The great news is that one of the volunteers fell in love with Steven and is starting a special needs orphanage where Steven and 3 other children from Amani will live. God provides in all settings.

The team has worked hard today. They have painted a mural in one of the baby playrooms and we will be posting the final pictures of that tomorrow. They help feed the children during meals, change diapers, clean the children, dress them, help with laundry and much more. They have done this with smiles and eager hearts. Two of the sweet ladies were telling me how much this team has blessed them. They have not complained once. They have learned that serving makes one happy and their hearts have grown for orphans. They have figured this out first-hand and their hearts are forever linked to Uganda.

Back in Jinja

H.E.A.L. Ministries is back in Jinja. We are partnering with Harpeth Hall to give a team of 12 an experience that they will never get.

The girls are getting more than a community service credit. They are getting life time memories that they will cherish forever. And, we have only been here one day. It took two days to get here and one day to bond and figure out that life is much bigger than ourselves.

After 18 hours on the plane with 23 packed suitcases full of supplies, lots of delirious laughter, a midnight check in Entebbe, a three hour bus ride through Kampala, we finally arrived in Jinja. What a delight! the views that team experienced alone was worth it! During the first 24 hours we have accomplished alot. We played with the children in the Amazima program and the team got to see first hand what this program is all about. Since we were here last in July, they have completed an awesome playground, began construction on a chapel that will serve as an English teaching facility, added more children to the program and gave over 100 families goats for Christmas! The founder and leader of the program (Katie Davis) homeschools 13 girls while running this awesome ministry and writing a book (and she is only 21 years old!) and so......to say she has been busy since July is an understatement! It was great for the team to see the difference of how one small, joyful, young lady can make a difference.

We spent a few hours playing with the kids and I could see the transition of our team members. They got out of the bus reluctant when we first arrived and left hugging the children, reluctantly to get back in the bus. Its' the small things that God uses on these trips over and over to change our hearts and to see the world from His point of view: a smile from a child, a hug from a mom, a little boy coming up to just sit with you and hold your hand, or seeing over 400 children laughing and playing and leaving with bags of rice, beans and flour for their families. We'll have the privilege of returning next Saturday to assist with the cooking, cleaning and serving.

After we left the Amazima program, we visted the Canaan Childrens Home. This orphanage has 125 children that are loved on and given a second chance at life. Children that each have a story that is almost unbearable to read about. They have had parents that sold them, abandoned them, surrendered them to the LRA, or just simply did not want them. Pastor Isaac loves them and teaches them that they are valuable in God's eyes and can make a difference. They are happy, educated and loved. It will be a joy for our team to serve this orphanage.

After a full day of seeing Jinja, including stopping downtown to get a coke and see the market, we relaxes in our Guest House and ate pizza. How very American of us the first day! At the end of the day we each shared stories of what we experienced in just one short 24 hours. The stories shared included; how incredible it is to see the older siblings taking care of the younger ones, how joyful everyone is here in the worst of conditions, how beautiful the scenery is, how beautiful the Ugandan people are, how relational the Ugandan people are, how eager to the Ugandans are to trust and receive our friendship. We have much to experience the next two weeks and the first day opened our hearts to receive exactly what we are supposed to on this journey!

2010 REFLECTIONS

I am always amazed when someone says "why do you do what you

do - it is so difficult - you have had such difficult health issues - everyone would understand if you give it all up - perhaps God is showing you signs to quit - there are so many other ministries -, etc., etc., etc.,"

Life has

a funny way of teaching us lessons. God has a great way to show us His path. My answers in reflecting over the last couple years to people asking "why take the hard road" - is this: All I know is to be obedient. What God starts, He finishes. If we feel called to do something - we need to be obedient to follow until He directs us another way. God will only open the doors to His path if we are in His word and close the doors to what He wants closed if it is not His will.

EVERY single time that I pray for God's direction and to give me clarity - He does. He will do it for the person reading this and He does it for the orphans and widows. God has repeatedly allowed things in my own life that has given me purpose and passion for those that are hurting. He has written the story of my life along the way that has given me an understanding of the abandoned heart. I have lived the fears and sadness of a single mom. I have witnessed the disappointment and tears of a fatherless child. And I have lived the journey of death's threat knocking at my door. Through it all, God remains the same. Through it all, He is King and keeps His promises. And through it all, He is the only constant unconditional love that gives Hope. Because all men will disappoint us, we must cling to the one and only creator that loved us so much that He allowed His son to die for us - that is CRAZY, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. If we knew a cure for cancer (and I pray for that constantly) we would shout it from the rooftops. We know the cure for those hurting and we should SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

God protected our fall time. The fall trips were postponed and we start back serving in the field in January. God has opened the doors for H.E.A.L. Ministries to serve in several high school and colleges during the fall. The 2011 calendar is being planned and He is directing the path and providing the leadership. I am encouraged today as I think of the children and the women we have served. He has given me full vision that His plan will continue. God does not need me or any man to fulfill His plans to serve the orphans and widows which He defines as pure and faultless religion. Therefore, I am humbled that He is allowing me to tag along for the ride.

I am learning that this ride includes His timing. I am learning that I am not in control of the planning (although much planning is required). Sometimes the ride is fast and crazy and sometimes He directs us to slow down and rest in Him. We are looking forward to the 2011 year and until then, we can remember the smiles of those we have served and thank our Father for allowing us to see Jesus in the eyes of the abandoned hearts.