Hello everyone! Sorry these updates don't come more often. The power is off at random times, we have a virus on our computer making it slow, and sometimes I am just too tired to think once I get home from the field.
This week has easily been my toughest week yet. One incident - while walking home from the market on Monday, I met a girl sitting off the side of the road crying. I will make this a very short version: she is 20 years old, 6 months pregnant, no longer in touch with her family in the village or the father of her baby, has a STD and is HIV+. She was very weak when I met her. I took her to the hospital on Wednesday. We waited for hours but eventually found out she had malaria and a urinary tract infection, both putting the baby at risk so they admitted her. I told her I would pay for the medical bills (very cheap here) and would visit her often. I listened to some of her stories and troubles and my heart totally broke for her! I was ready to give an arm and a leg to make sure this baby was okay, that she'd get a roof over her head and begin to bring in money. However, through a series of events I found out that some of her stories were not true and that I was being taken advantage of for her financial gain. I am glad that I was able to help her get medical assistance and that I was able to speak with her about life (after I found out about the lies). I know that God brought our two paths together for a reason and I have to trust him for the results. Needless to say, it was a bit crushing.
I know that no one likes to read sad stories, but this is part of my life here. I will, however, share happy stories too...I got to see the ending of a birth on Tuesday!! I was under a tree hiding from the rain (YES...it has RAINED a couple of days here!!!!) and some of the locals called me into their hut to witness the birth! It was so awesome! I've ridden sidesaddle on the back of a motorbike through the countryside in the rain on two different days. That takes away the bad feelings and makes you smile and giggle like a little girl! To release stress/sadness we watch silly movies on the computer screen (Dumb and Dumber, Ace Ventura) or listen to Wes play the guitar and we sing all of the 80s/early 90s sappy songs that we can think of, or like the other night I taught funny yoga poses and cheerleading jumps. Thank God there is laughter!
p.s I promise I wear sunscreen...I am often red because I am so hot :)
4 comments:
Hi Keira! This is Lori (Keri's sister) and I wanted to connect with you on your amazing hourney. I am so touched to learn that you are in Uganda. We spnser two beautiful children through World Vision who live in Uganda. Doreen Kugonza is 7 1/2 and lives with her large family in Bundibugyo (on the eastern border and south of Lake Albert) and Vicent Ahaisibwe is 6 1/2 and lives with his family in Buhimba, directly south of Hoima. Do you know them?...heh heh :) that was meant to offer you a chuckle...Lima seems to be east of both of the locations. I have no idea if you will ever be in these villages, but I thought I'd pass the info along. My family often wonders how these precious children live and are constantly concerned about their well-being. It is a comfort to us that there such loving, courageous people as yourself who are in the trenches teaching them about the awesome love of God and what only He has to offer - an eternal life of love and peace. Peace to you, my friend. Safe journey, moments of laughter, and God's speed. My prayers are with you...Lori Chase
you're so....far away! doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore. hahaha i heard that at work today and immediately missed the hell out of you. I hope you had a very memorable b-day. i love reading your stories
Happy Valentines Day Auntie Keira. I hope you have a good day. And also I love you, so I want you to have a good Valentine's Day. I hope you get flowers like my Mom did. I like you alot. So you know, you can love your friends also. That's all I wanted to tell you. (Dictated to Mama by Jantzen)
Hi Keira, This is from Peggy and Andy Knorowski. We talked with you briefly last Sunday on the way out of church. To help you remember, you mentioned to Peggy that there was an "i" in your name, otherwise we wouldn't be able to contact you. We want to paste an encouraging article from James MacDonald and his series The Weekly Walk in the Word. When I read it I mentioned it to Peggy and thought you would be blessed by it as follows:I Choose to Trust
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Trust is the antidote to anxiety; it's the resolution of worry and the destruction of fear. Trust is the act of my will to give my burdens to God. It's like a muscle--as you exercise it, trust gets stronger.
Trust is walking forward moment by moment, having rolled your burden onto God. You've no doubt said, "I gave it to God once, but here it is again in my grip." When you sense that you've taken it back again, get back on your knees, get the burden back on God, get on your feet again, and continue to trust.
When you off-load your burden on God, you can pick up a promise from His Word. Second Peter 1:4 tells us that "he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world." There are literally hundreds of promises that apply to your specific burden. God's Word is filled with treasure.
I'm claiming Isaiah 41:10 right now for a burden I leaving at God's feet. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." There it is! God is doing this whole thing with one hand tied behind His back. He's not stressed or strained. He's not worried about what to do. He has absolutely no capacity limits!
Isaiah continues, "Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you'" (vv. 11-13).
Take a moment to read that awesome promise again. Trust means you anchor your heart in the reality of God's awareness of your situation. He sees more than you can ever see. God, who loves you and is committed to you, will not disappoint you now or in the future if you put your weight fully on Him.
Thinking and praying for you and hope these words strengthen you heart and resolve, Andy & Peggy Knorowski
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