Uganda update (Wait, what happened to Kenya?)

So, I have a few hours of downtime from all of the traveling I’ve been doing so I thought it might be a good idea to give a brief update.  Right now I’m in Uganda using the Internet at a hostel in Kampala called Red Chili, where I am staying in the Fresno room (I couldn’t help myself).

For those of you who aren’t connected with Brandi in any way and are wondering how I ended up in Uganda, I met an amazing woman of God (Cassandra Basnet) in Kenya who is connected with GCM and Expression 58.  She has been doing work in Sudan to setup a program to better reintegrate child soldiers (see why I said amazing!).  Anyway, Cassandra has been living in Northern Uganda most recently and when I mentioned I was interested in visiting, doors opened and about two days travel later I was in Gulu playing with the children of child mothers.

One child, Opio, ran straight to me when I first showed up.  Having never meet me before and having seen very few white men, it is incredible to me how he responded.  If I understand correctly, Opio is an orphan whose aunt (a child mother herself) took him in after his mother died.  Just a few weeks ago when the children and their mothers were brought into a newly established home, some of the children didn’t know how to play at all.   In an incredibly short period of time God’s love is releasing the children to be children – Opio and Jordan never seem to stop playing now

I made a commitment that I would love extravegantly this trip, and today I’m paying the price – but it’s worth it.  I miss those kids so much and I’ve only known them less than two days.  Father, gaurd the deposit of love I left there.

Well, Bungoma has a lot of work to do to outshine Gulu – but I’ll start that leg of this adventure tomorrow with my first ever solo border crossing.  Prayers are cherished and have been effective.

Sleep hasn’t been happening for all sorts of different reasons these last few days so please pray into that.  And for future reference: it is much better to have your sleep disturbed by a rodent in the trash can than an oppressive spirit that paralizes you with fear.  I’d prefer neither tonight.

Yup, I’m about to start rambling so I think I’ll cut things off here for now.  See ya’ll in a few days.

Hope, peace and love in Christ,

-Matt

I’m leaving the country…no really

With my recent lag in blog consistency many of you probably wouldn’t notice a two week hiatus in posts, but my upcoming blogging absence will have a better than average reason.  I’ll be in Kenya.

My parents, brother and I will be leaving December 3rd and returning the 18th from a trip with Global Children’s Movement.  We will be spending time in Nairobi, Kitale, and Bungoma praying with our brothers and sisters, and serving ministries that work with orphans and street kids.

Your prayers are cherished, and valuable – so pray dangerously and may the Lord give you peace.