144 Toothbrushes.

It was after midnight, and I found myself sitting on the cement floor in our living room completely surrounded by gifts for the Bethel children. Things ranging from hydrogen peroxide to socks to jump ropes were everywhere, and there I was, in the center, counting toothbrushes. One hundred and forty four toothbrushes. And as I counted the last one, something made me stop and think:

“These toothbrushes are for my children!”  (No. We don’t have 144 children. Don’t worry!)

“Some of them will get to brush their teeth with a toothbrush for the first time in their lives!!”

………

                ……………………..

“How and why was I chosen to be the one?

                ….the one who gets to be blessed enough to bear these gifts?

                                ………..who gets to see their joy in person, face to face??”

I always find myself asking that question. And really, I know the answer – only God. Only God could work such a miracle! And if He can work that awesome of a miracle in my life, I have no doubt that He’ll work even bigger and greater ones in our kids’ lives. And the gifts that our children received as I went to Kagarama for the last time before I leave were nothing short of a miracle!

I wish with the deepest part of my heart that all of you could have been there the day we gave the gifts to our children! Seeing the joy on their faces was one of the most amazing things I've experienced. For the vast majority of them, this was the first time in their lives that they've ever received a gift. As we started pulling the first gifts out of the boxes, there was this murmur and air of excitement that rushed through the children. Some of them, when we called them to see if clothes or shoes would fit them, would simply stare at us in complete shock. I can only imagine what was going through their minds!

                “Who? Me? Really???”

….. And as they’re making their way to the person holding the article of clothing:

“Dear God, PLEASE let it fit! Or at least make me grow really fast while I’m walking so it won’t be too big for me! Oh, wow! It still has tags on it. It’s….. NEW. God make it fit me!!!”

Seriously though. I had to teach our kids how to use bubbles. They had no clue.

And the basics. Toothbrushes. I don’t know why the toothbrushes are hitting me so hard. Maybe it’s the fact that for most people I know, a toothbrush is just a “given.” The thought of living without a simple toothbrush is absurd. But yet, that’s the reality my kids are living in. No toothbrush. No shoes. One pair of clothes. No electricity. Running water classifies you as rich. Make your own soccer ball out of plastic bags (if you can find enough, that is). Write on banana leaves for lack of paper. Porridge. Posho*. Beans. Posho. Beans. Porridge. Posho. Beans. You get the picture…..  

But then I got to see firsthand. I got to see them receive clothes, shoes, book bags, pencils, books, bubbles, toys. God really put some stuff in perspective for me. These children pray for God’s provision. They pray for healing. And now they’re realizing that God is faithful. No matter how long it seems to take Him – He will never forsake them. They’re seeing God’s miracles right before their own eyes. And I’m SO blessed to be a witness to it all.

God is faithful. So. So. Faithful.

“You (God) have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat…”

-Isaiah 25:4

*Posho is not really explainable to Americans, but it's a mixture of water and corn flour that ends up solidifying.... I can't even explain the texture. Maybe like cornbread but less dry? Or mashed potatoes but more dry. Yeah. Not explainable. 

All the kids with their gifts! 

Boys checking out their new shorts!

Babra's new skirt!

Magid in his new shoes! 

We have a parachute!! 

Loyce with her new gifts! 

Motherhood.

Over the past couple months, I’ve experienced something I never thought I would be prepared for (especially before I was married!!). What’s that?

Motherhood.

Over the course of a matter of weeks, I’ve become the “Mama” to four children aging 4, 5, 7, and 9. While our children at Bethel are almost numbering in 50, these four are the ones who are actually living with us.

Ibra!! 

The first to come was Ibra (4). He’s the “mama’s boy,” and is so stubborn sometimes, but darling all the same. I’m going to have SO many stories to tell on him someday! Once, he up and kicked a full flask for no reason. It broke, and he ran away (trying to avoid punishment! Haha, right…). He also used to fight sleeping so much!! We could put him in bed and he would just cry and scream! Other times, he would keep quiet, but 10 minutes later, he would walk back into the sitting room where we all were. (Reminds me of my little brother!) But he’s so sweet as well. He loves snuggling and trying to walk around in my shoes. He also likes to “help” clean the veranda and even bathe himself sometimes. (And he goes to bed by himself now!)

Gideon acting tough.. 

The next two that God blessed us with were Gideon (7) and Monica (9). Gideon is full of energy! He bounces around everywhere and is always either playing or working. I think the only time I’ve ever seen him sit still is when he’s eating which, like every 7 year old boy, he’s ALWAYS hungry!! But he’s such a big help around the house! He helps clean the veranda out front, keeps the younger ones entertained, and even helps bathe his little brothers! One day, he and Nelson spent the entire day catching grasshoppers! He’s also such a father to the younger boys as well as the other kids around the neighborhood. One day he told me he had 21 children!! (And he started naming them!)

Monica looking smart! 

Monica is a hard worker, but loves to have fun and laugh. When my sisters (Deborah and Jeb) are home from school, they all have a blast together!! (Although they like to stay up WAY too late.) Monica absolutely loves schooling! Every day she comes home, she has to tell us what happened at school that day. Sometimes, after saying goodnight to her, I can come back into the room an hour or two later and she’s still awake reading! She came home so proud one day because she was the only one in her class who knew how to read Luganda (their native language), so she had been called to teach the other students how to read it! Her passion for learning is going to take her so far!

Nelson all excited about his shoes/socks!

Nelson (5) is the most recent child to join us. He’s from Kagarama, but was in such bad health condition that we realized we needed to bring him to stay with us so he could receive the nutrition he needs. Despite the language barrier, he’s adjusted so well! He’s a very intelligent boy and is very good on following directions. But that doesn’t mean he can’t put Ibra in his place! Sometimes while he and Ibra are playing together, I hear Ibra start wailing. Of course I have to go “take care of the problem.” Most times it consists of Nelson hitting Ibra or something of the like for whatever Ibra was doing that was out of line. Even though most times I know Ibra deserved whatever Nelson gave him, I still have to make both of them realize that what they did was wrong. One of my favorite moments with Nelson was when we brought him back his first pair of socks and shoes. His smile was the BIGGEST!!

All 4 kids! 

I’ve learned so much through my kids. They’ve been difficult, impossible, ridiculous, and absolutely lovely. There are so many challenges. Ibra, although young, knew a language from East/Northern Uganda. Gideon and Monica speak Luganda (Central Uganda), and Nelson speaks Runyankole (Western Uganda). The problem? I speak English. Try disciplining children who don’t understand what you’re saying! But God is good. Most times they know what they’ve done wrong! However, language barriers are a problem in more areas than that. Monica woke up crying one morning because of a dream she had. Mommy had to translate for me. And still I could only comfort her with the few Lugana words I know. I can understand when my kids are hungry, or want water, or want to sleep. Basics like that, but when it comes to counseling them, building their faith, encouraging them? I simply can’t. Not yet. But I’m learning. Little by little, I’m learning the language. And I’m realizing that words aren’t the only thing that comforts and guides children. But God has used my children to make me realize His great love for us. No matter how many times Ibra drop-kicks a flask, or Gideon complains that he’s hungry, or Monica uses up the battery on my phone, or Nelson wets the bed – no matter how many times my kids annoy me, upset me, or challenge me, I still love them. I love them more than I can express in words… and I’m human. How great does that make God’s love for us?!

But I can tell you one thing for sure…. Mothers deserve a Mother’s day like every month! Not just once a year!!