Surrender Uganda: A Great Hope

The church has windows & doors!

The inside of the church - our new campsite!

Well.... First of all, my apologies to those of you who were expecting a blog post last week; we were out of power from Thursday through Monday! While not having power wasn't exactly convenient, it ended up being a really good time of team bonding, resting, and refocusing. But definitely the highlight of the last two weeks was getting to go back to the village of Zirobwe!!

On Wednesday afternoon I found myself walking on the red dirt roads of Zirobwe with a fellow worker who was translating for me. Two of the girls from Sunday School were with me, one on each hand, and their mother was just ahead of us. The younger of the two girls was 5 years old and had a skin rash all over her body, and their mother had come to me for help at church. So, we walked together to the doctor - miles. When we arrived at the doctor's and the young girl went through her examination in the tiniest doctor's office I've ever seen, we were told that not only did she have a skin rash, but she also had recurring malaria. The doctor gathered together skin cream for her rash and several different pills both for the rash and malaria and totaled the cost. As I watched, a tiny fear crept into me - what if I didn't have enough money to pay for all of that? Then I heard the total: 8,000 UGX - that's about $3. My heart sighed and cried out at the same time; I had plenty of money to pay for the medication, but how poor could these people be to bring themselves to ask for help with what seemed like such a small amount. Three dollars. Three. If people can't even afford to pay that much, where is the hope in their lives?

It's HUGE!!

But these people do have hope. More hope than many people in America. They have the hope that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has given them. Rather than turn to it only in times of struggle, they cling to it with everything they have, all the time. "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31). They are renewed and strengthened by Christ; through Him they are able to press on in joy. Mark 10:31 says, "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." I cannot hide the fact that I envy these people. Despite their poverty and struggles here on earth, how much greater will their reward be when they're finally with God in heaven? Yes. The least of these have a great hope.