Day 5

Well, another amazing day in Africa and I have no idea where to begin. For those expecting to hear from another voice on the team... sorry it's Justin again. We couldn't seem to get nailed down who would be blogging tonight and apparently everyone went to bed without anyone doing it. I will make this short and sweet because I need to get some rest (as many of you know I was pretty sick yesterday).


Today brought so many new and incredible things, starting with the market. We took a van to the edge of the city to a small corner of land criss-crossed by railroad tracks and dotted with mud puddles from the near daily rainstorms. Walking into the market immediately contrasts the stark beauty and utter poverty that is Uganda. Ragged tarps claim 10X10 plots of land which are covered with local crafts of such amazing artisanship they seem to be out of place. Necklaces, drums, clothes, toys, anything you can imagine is for sale. As you walk by each vendor bids you "come and have a look", all claiming to have the best for the lowest price. Each person is trying to make the most on each sale so they start prices high, but expect you to barter, it's the African way. Some people did better than others, all did better than Charlie. Usual bargaining goes something like this. me- "How much for this?" him- "Twenty thousand" (Schillings, about 10 dollars) me- "Oh, hmm" him- "But I make a good price for you." me- "How much?" him- "How much you have?" me- "What's your best price?" him- "Seventeen thousand" me- "Fifteen?" pause him- "Ok". Charlie's bargaining goes something like this. Charlie- "How much?" him- "Twenty thousand" Charlie- "That your best price?" him- "Best price " Charlie- "Ok".

After we purchased more things than we can possibly take home, we headed to Redeemer House Orphanage around lunch. I am not sure who wrote what yesterday, but those kids and workers are some of the most incredible people on the planet. Selfless, loving, giving, genuine. There is definitely fruit of the Spirit coming from them. As said, I was sick yesterday, sick enough to need I.V.'s and a day in the clinic. (Thank you to all those who prayed for us) The doctor told me I would be down for three of four days and when I went to bed last night I thought that might be a conservative estimate. I have never been so sick. Waking up this morning I still felt puny, but thought I would come down stairs and try to eat. Five minutes later I was back in bed, exhausted. Everything hurt. I layed there for awhile and decided I at least needed to get logistics worked out for the day so back down I went. This time I took one of the letters that various peole wrote for the team to read daily and when Kevin read it we all nearly fell out of our chairs. The scripture referenced was amazingly timely Hosea 6:1-3 (New International Version)



1 "Come, let us return to the LORD.

He has torn us to pieces

but he will heal us;

he has injured us

but he will bind up our wounds.

2 After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will restore us,

that we may live in his presence.



3 Let us acknowledge the LORD;

let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises,

he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth."

Only God. I felt as if God were speaking directly to my heart. I ate breakfast, got ready and joined the others, three of whom had been sick as well, but feeling good today. As we were in the van my mom began telling us how Noah, the Uncle of the house, and some of the kids stayed up instead of going to bed and prayed for us to get better from 8:30 pm until 12:30 am! A few of the younger ones even snuck out and joined. I was blown away. When we got to the house, Noah told me that at 11:00 that night God told him that we would all be there for lunch, so he told the kids. They were not the least bit surprised to see us all, they had prayed specifically and God had answered, specifically. The faith of a child! I can honestly say that by the time lunch was served I was 100%. I also know that if I had woken up feeling good I would have accredited it to a good nights sleep, medication and God. But that's not how God works. He wants all the glory, all the credit, and I humbly give it to Him now. Praise you Father, thank you. God wants to show himself to be the awesome and powerful God that He is, sometimes it just takes the faith of a child to recognize it. Give God the glory in everything today.