My heart

I wish you could hear the roosters in the morning, smell the beans cooking at lunch, taste the mango we pick up from the market on our way home. I've been in Gulu, Uganda for 3 weeks now. It feels like a lifetime, but at the same time it feels like a blink of an eye. It does, however, feel like home. And that is such a blessing, because don't we all want to feel like we are at home? Yes, it is true, that we are not truly Home here, on this earth. But I've nested and I'm settling in. I've put up pictures of family and friends that I miss so much sometimes that hurts. I've unpacked. I have somewhat of a routine. And I love it. This is my heart, here in Uganda. 

We went on outreach twice this week with the girls and the team (a group from Oakbrook Church in Reston, VA). We had three 'teams', each of us taking some of the girls and a couple members of the team. Outreach is one of my favorite things to do, but it is also very difficult. There is so much hurt and so much need. 

Grace's newborn baby (1 of 7 children) is sick, and has been for a week. She doesn't have the money for medicine. She accepted Christ as her Savior on Tuesday. 

Agnes lives four hours away from her children.

Rose is caring for her year-old granddaughter, Scovia, when she can barely care for herself. 

It can be discouraging, knowing that sometimes there is not a lot we can do for these people other than pray. We could give them food, but that will not help their situations. Watching our girls walk around the slum most of them were raised in, speaking softly to people, encouraging, and praying more fervently and intimately to their God than I ever have, makes me remember that sometimes, that's enough. It's enough to lay our hands on these friends and pray for them, lift them up to our God. Because without Him we can't do anything anyways. The Lord is teaching me that here- that I am nothing and can do nothing without Him. 

I am loving it. There are challenges, really tough things, and really awesome things. It's hard to nail down just a few things to tell you about, and sometimes a picture is worth more than any words I can give ya. So here is the last few weeks in pictures :)  

Christmas in January :)

We prayed for Lucy and her two newborns (like really newborn- they were born last night!)

Children we met during outreach in a community just outside of town.

Aloyo getting some help with her crown. The Oakbrook team did such an awesome job this week with VBS for the girls. They made crowns to signify their true identities- princesses! 

The girls put their chetenges (the piece of fabric I have on my head) on me, Britt, and Em- they said "Aunties you look like mamas!" Such a special moment.

The girls had fun with the pipe cleaners :)

I've been taking pics of the girls for splash pages/campaigns and seriously, these girls are SO beautiful (I mean I knew that before, but still!)

Love, Hailey