God Hears Our Cries
We began our morning at Musana by walking down to the fishing village of Nalumuli. First, we sat
on the beach and listened to Angela share her story of how God called her to minister to the women. As she shared, tears welled up in her eyes. She spoke directly from the heart. There was no denying God has given her a supernatural love for the people of Nalumuli.
Angela and her husband came to Uganda on utter obedience. They sold their house, bought plane tickets, and initially had no plan. All they knew was that God was calling them to Uganda. They found out about New Hope Uganda, were accepted as missionaries, and moved into their home at Musana. Angela looked down at Nalumuli and her heart was moved. She felt God was calling her to walk down there - alone.
This was a scary calling. Nalumuli is a place of suffering and rampant sin. The men aren't faithful; they fish at night, and drink during the day. The women suffer and struggle to raise their children. Nalumuli is a village of shacks surrounded by garbage. Yet, God hears their cries and He sent someone to bring hope.
Now 53 women from several surrounding villages make baskets and jewelry that Angela sells both in Uganda and in the U.S. through Woven Hearts of Hope. These women are empowered to make a living to do things like send their children to school, provide for medical needs, and one woman even built a new home!
So, we enter the village and it is not easy to see how the people live. Most of the men were in the bar drinking and the women were alone in their homes. Garbage was surrounding the village. But, there were glimpses of hope. A few women were making baskets in their houses. Some were even trying out new designs. They were proud to show Angela their new creations. One woman was wearing a pair of glasses that my friends from here in SD provided. The glasses make her basket weaving much easier.
One team member brought a picture of a little boy from seven years prior. He thought maybe this child was still around. We asked the people and searched. Then we found the little boy's aunt. Smiles soon turned to grief and tears. She shared that he had died by being struck by lightening while sleeping next to his cousin. She was given the picture, she retreated into her home, sat in her chair, and wept.
As I have reflected on this experience and on the experience at the government school at Kobwin, it is easy to ask "Why?". But, as I asked God "why", He taught me that He hears their cries. He called Angela to help the women of Nalumuli. He led our team member to bring the picture of that little boy. He led some donors in the U.S. to provide for the Kobwin water project.
God reminded me of when Jesus was weeping over Jerusalem. It grieves him that we live in a world of sin and suffering. If He didn't care, the cross would be for nothing. He paid a steep price to cover our sin. He hears our cries.
"You have kept count of my tossings, put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" Psalm 56:8
"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." Habakuk 3:17-19
Angela and her husband came to Uganda on utter obedience. They sold their house, bought plane tickets, and initially had no plan. All they knew was that God was calling them to Uganda. They found out about New Hope Uganda, were accepted as missionaries, and moved into their home at Musana. Angela looked down at Nalumuli and her heart was moved. She felt God was calling her to walk down there - alone.
This was a scary calling. Nalumuli is a place of suffering and rampant sin. The men aren't faithful; they fish at night, and drink during the day. The women suffer and struggle to raise their children. Nalumuli is a village of shacks surrounded by garbage. Yet, God hears their cries and He sent someone to bring hope.
Now 53 women from several surrounding villages make baskets and jewelry that Angela sells both in Uganda and in the U.S. through Woven Hearts of Hope. These women are empowered to make a living to do things like send their children to school, provide for medical needs, and one woman even built a new home!
So, we enter the village and it is not easy to see how the people live. Most of the men were in the bar drinking and the women were alone in their homes. Garbage was surrounding the village. But, there were glimpses of hope. A few women were making baskets in their houses. Some were even trying out new designs. They were proud to show Angela their new creations. One woman was wearing a pair of glasses that my friends from here in SD provided. The glasses make her basket weaving much easier.
One team member brought a picture of a little boy from seven years prior. He thought maybe this child was still around. We asked the people and searched. Then we found the little boy's aunt. Smiles soon turned to grief and tears. She shared that he had died by being struck by lightening while sleeping next to his cousin. She was given the picture, she retreated into her home, sat in her chair, and wept.
As I have reflected on this experience and on the experience at the government school at Kobwin, it is easy to ask "Why?". But, as I asked God "why", He taught me that He hears their cries. He called Angela to help the women of Nalumuli. He led our team member to bring the picture of that little boy. He led some donors in the U.S. to provide for the Kobwin water project.
God reminded me of when Jesus was weeping over Jerusalem. It grieves him that we live in a world of sin and suffering. If He didn't care, the cross would be for nothing. He paid a steep price to cover our sin. He hears our cries.
"You have kept count of my tossings, put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" Psalm 56:8
"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." Habakuk 3:17-19
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