The Pearl of Africa

Welcome to the Pearl of Africa…

Walking into the nation of Uganda we were greeted by this sign. I don’t know why Uganda was originally labeled this but I do know I have found reasons why it should be. A pearl is formed through an intense process that isn’t easy or simple but once it makes it through the process you have a beautiful pure ball that we now wear and that is expensive to purchase.

War, rebels, child soldiers, aids, orphans, poverty… There are still 9 districts in Uganda healing and trying to recover from the trauma from Joseph Kony, who forced kids to be child soldiers and murdered thousands. There are more and more people dying of aids and more children becoming orphans each day. Poverty has taken over this beautiful nation. So why? Why should we call Uganda the pearl of Africa? Because there are pearls in this nation! People have made it through these intense and uneasy processes and have become beautiful and pure. They’ve allowed the processes to change them and transform them for good and not bad, as most of us would have.

Last week we went on a journey called “Luke 10”. This is a journey where we ask God to show us where to go and we don’t take money or things of comfort. God gives us pictures or words and we hear His voice. This was a 5 day journey and during it, every picture and word God gave us came to pass and He provided food and a place for us to stay. It was a life changing Journey! Right in the beginning we met a man named Joseph. Joseph is a barber who lives about an hour’s walk from town and his work.  After chatting with Joseph God opened a door for us and he asked us to please come and stay in his home. We spent all 5 days with Joseph and it was incredible to see how God moved. Joseph although he’s a Christian didn’t know any of the simple truths of the Bible because he was never taught it. So in our time, we got to teach him all about Jesus, sin, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, that there is one God… and so much more. We walked a road of forgiveness with him where we saw him get set free and healed from so many broken relationships, he never let go of. We also went with him to his home where his grandma of 85, who has been a muslim all her life, accepted Jesus! We got to pray for family after family around Josephs home and wow God moved and encountered people! So why am I telling you all this and what does it have to do with pearls? Because Joseph is a pearl of Africa and Uganda. On a good week at work Joseph may get at most $12. Joseph has a wife and a daughter as well as about 5 kids that come and stay off and on at his house. Joseph doesn’t have electricity, water, and has a very simple small house. He has nothing and so do all the families in his village, where we stayed. Yet Joseph is a man of wealth and he would tell you that he is blessed. He is a man who never stops smiling, who loves God fully, who gives free haircuts to those who can’t pay, who loves the kids in his home to the greatest extent, who loves his wife Peace, and who was willing to give up all he had for us to stay with him. Joseph has a broken family that are majority all muslim and don’t like him. He works 7 days a week and has had many family members die. Joseph to me shouldn’t be smiling after all that has happened to him and the intense poverty that he lives in, yet he is! I know that nothing ever can take that smile away from him. Joseph is truly a pearl, a priceless and pure person that many of us would pay a great amount of money for the wealth and integrity that he has.

( Joseph, Chrstine, and Howard eating our breakfast of sugar cain and tea)

(Joseph's grandma, who we got to lead to Jesus)

There are so many of these pearls in Uganda that we have had the privilege of meeting. People, who have suffered greatly and don’t have anything, yet look at themselves as the wealthiest because of things like family, love, and most important Jesus. Orphans who have lost everything and are now alone but these very orphans say they are blessed because they have Jesus, get food, and get an education. These are orphans who know how to worship! Uganda is the pearl of Africa, not because of the beauty of the land, but because of the individual people.

(Joseph's family and friends that we ministered to as well as graves that surround Joseph's house, of family members that have died)

We are now inTororo, Uganda at a children’s home. We have painted, played with kids, and taught games and songs. We will be here for 3 more days and then will travel through Uganda for a week visiting house churches. After this, we will then continue to travel to Kenya doing the same for a week there as well. There is so much a head and so much behind. My life is changed and broken… look out Uganda, look out Kenya, here we come!

May God make you into the pearl he is calling you to be. May you relentlessly pursue Him even when the processes you may face are uncomfortable and difficult to bear.