TRAVEL | Uganda

The sunset and rooster crow greet me and from my balcony the view is beautiful. Mama hen with babies runs under my balcony and the ringing of bicycle bells and smell of morning breakfast fires rise in the distance. The earth is red, faces are dark, houses are small. I wonder if the crying is a goat or small, unseen child. The yokes of our eggs are white and we have beans for breakfast.

The ride to the compound is the same as before, only shorter. Finally the gates appear and as they open from inside, we hear singing before we see the children. Women raise their cries long and loud, celebrating with claps and dancing feet. Before my feet are off the bus I’m carried away with hugs. The line is formed and each person wants to touch me and pull me to them, thanking me for coming and for bringing them hope. My eyes burn and I choke. I have never seen joy like this.

The open-air room is filled with children and adults, my cameras are out, the singing and dancing still going and I wish I could sit and soak in the moment, and save it forever. Many thank you’s are said, poems recited, dances danced, songs sung and then a rush of the children. I’ve never been hugged so deep or long or so much, scratchy heads brushing my arms and cheeks and my tears fall. Their eyes are so bright, teeth white in biggest smiles. They ask my name a hundred times and I wish I could remember all of their names and tell them how beautiful they are.

Visiting each house, each house mother, children proudly show their little beds and lockers full of their pretties and specials, pictures and letters hanging on walls. Sponsors meet their children, some for the first time, and it’s like seeing a family come together, hearts connecting. I’m undone.

Here’s the thing. God is huge and His kingdom so much more than what I think I know. These little souls are His special creation and they are deeply loved. They weren’t lucky enough to be born into safety with predictable lives. They have walked through great darkness, unwanted, alone, often witnesses and victims of tragedy and horror. It’s unimaginable the hunger, desperation, hopelessness. Their lives were headed in one direction- a direction no one deserves.
But.
So many things.

They have a hope and a future. They have tasted heaven on earth and love has rescued them. They are safe. They are fed. They are clean and cared for, mind, body and soul. They learn and pray, play and dance and sing and laugh mighty.

I know why I’ve come so far.

I will never be the same.