Last Day at the Orphanages

Wow, we can't believe this week is over. Today was the last day for each team to go to the orphanages. We have been truly blessed by this week, and very very encouraged by the ministry that is going on here at the EPC and at Lora and Morobo orphanages.

Today we finished our study by talking about how God is "victorious". It was a day of celebration at both places. The kids now have a motion they do when they hear each word - holy, just, loving, merciful, and victorious. We pray that as we leave this place, that they grow to understand more of the character of God. Even with the language barrier, we can see how much they have learned. The men at each orphanage that have translated have been amazing, and they love working with the kids. We know that the kids have heard the Gospel proclaimed this week, and that they have been hungry for it.

As we left Lora today it was sad, but also very encouraging to know that they are being shepherded by amazing leaders. We didn't come here to be their saviors, but to love them and teach them, and continue the work of the church, These kids are very well taken care of, despite the pain they have seen. We can see hurt in their eyes, especially the older orphans, but they also have incredible hope and joy in the Lord.

Tonight, we ate dinner with the leadership of EPC, as well as Bishop Taban and his wife. They were able to pray over us, and thank the Village Church for their partnership. One thing he said that stuck out was, "Please keep coming - we are united as brothers and sisters by the blood of Christ, and we will all be transformed."

The biggest thing the Lord has shown us this week is how much the people here sacrifice for the Lord. The Sudanese church leaders and the staff at each orphanage literally give their lives for the work of God. There are also missionaries here from Germany, Scotland, and Ireland, and I have been incredibly humbled by how hard they work and how much they give up to serve here. We hope and pray that God continues to guide us as a team and as a church in how we are supposed to serve in international missions. The harvest IS plentiful, and in many places the workers are few.

Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, to pick up our cross, and to follow him with all that we have. It's convicting to thing about how much I indulge instead of deny myself, and look to comfort more than serving. We pray that God uses our time here to continue to challenge us as we go home. We will never forget this week, and the kids that we formed relationships with.

We leave Yei tomorrow (pray that it doesn't rain, since it's a dirt runway...) and then we leave Uganda late Sunday night to fly home on Monday. Pray for safe travels! We are excited to share more with you about what the Lord has done this week. Be encouraged today that God is much bigger than our city or our nation, and He is at work around the world in huge ways.

in Him,

Kristen