Uganda Update #1 - Ryan Francis

Never having the opportunity to leave North America, I only had knowledge of how big the ocean was. Now here in Uganda, I can confidently confirm that I have experienced how big it is. The ocean is so big it even takes huge airplanes hours and hours to cross. When we talk about Gods love, we often speak of the vastness of it. I think of the hymn, “Love Vast as the Ocean.” God’s love is even deeper and wider than an ocean. That’s hard to grasp!

    It has been evident already the first few days here in Uganda, how powerful and impactful His love is for everybody. As I experience Ugandan culture (a lot of beans, crazy driving, and a very hot sun) one thing remains the same cross culture and that is His love for us. There is so much joy and gratitude in this village. It’s amazing. And even though we live in different cultures, we still serve the same God. A God whose love is big and deserves big love back. I’m challenged by these children’s happiness and thankfulness for such love. This week as we closed one soccer (er, football I mean) session one of the girls prayed. She asked God that they not take us for granted. Man, that hit me hard. It challenged me to not take them or this opportunity for granted. It is easy for us to get wrapped up in things. It’s easy to say a hasty thank you to MOAM for such an opportunity. It’s easy to say a hasty thank you to Rafiki and the village here in Uganda. But when that girl prayed those words, it brought me to a deeper level of gratitude. Nothing here is deserved. But because we serve such a big God, who loves so much, we find ourselves placed in Uganda serving amongst others with a different culture, but same 

    The children refer to us as “Auntie or Uncle.” It took a bit to get used to but it has now become a very special concept. You see, we are family. We are family in this village but in a larger picture we are all family in God’s eyes. Each person that surrenders their life joins God’s team and through that, becomes teammates/family to those who also confess that Jesus is Lord. So we are family to these children, more brother or sister than auntie or uncle but hey, that’s a minor detail. Most importantly, we all share a loving Father in God.

-Ryan Francis, Student Manager, Liberty University

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To God Be The Glory!