Author: rhondajwelch

“ It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵ Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”   1 Corinthians 4:4-5

Christian and I have been doing a study of 1 Corinthians and last night what we read about judging others really hit home for me. It has enabled me to change my perspective once again! Last week up to yesterday had me so very tired mentally, and frustrated with people. But while studying I realized that I am judging these people, holding them against a standard which they can never live up to. We are very blessed to have had education, family and experiences in life that they haven’t had. When the children come to my door and see the water heating on the stove, they are amazed because they have never seen anything like that. Same thing with our house and the painters. They don’t understand what we are trying to do because they live in mud huts, and if especially lucky they make bricks from the dirt and build tiny little buildings. They aren’t painted. They don’t realize that the paint on the floor is a problem to me because they live with dirt floors. I have felt that they just haven’t cared but in reality that is partly my pride, but it is because they haven’t ever experienced having something nice, especially a house that is “decorated”. You can’t judge and fault a person for something they honestly don’t know. Only God sees what is on the inside, and He is the one that passes sentence. The two guys that have done the most painting and mess haven’t asked for anything in return. Yesterday they hounded Christian to unlock the doors so they could get to work. One of the guys brings us milk from his cows everyday, and has invited us to his house for dinner tonight (yes, we are scared!). I think they just want to be with us, to do for us out of the goodness of their hearts. So, what is a little more mess when they have saved me a lot of time and a lot less body ache? It is in these times that I believe God is working on them and on me. We look for the big things to see God in, but He has been showing us that sometimes it is the little things, the annoying things that He is doing His work. The little boys that hang out at our house, and ask for food because they are hungry. The guys that hang out just wanting to sit and talk. I thank God for helping me to change my attitude and the filter through which I look at others’ around me. I pray that He reminds me of this everyday so that I don’t get stuck in aggravation and bitterness.

Who do you judge because they are different than you? How do YOU know what is inside them that makes them do what they do? Who can you do for today that might change your way of thinking about that person? These are the questions I have asked myself and with God’s help hope to change how I treat others.

Pray for us about supper tonight, it is only the second time we have been asked to someone’s house to eat. It will be awkward because he doesn’t speak any english and we aren’t sure about the time. First he said lunch but then changed it to supper. So we don’t know when to go because they don’t eat supper here until 8-9 pm. It will really be awkward if we get there at 6-7 and have to sit a couple hours! And the food – usually when a guest is asked over, the host gives the best that he has. If he only has one chicken, he will cook it for the guest and won’t eat until all the guests have eaten. The women don’t eat until everyone is finished. And the women don’t ever come in to be with the guests. I’ve been told that in some homes, the female guest(s) will be put in a room alone while the men entertain the men. The other time we were invited it was two men and Christian, Raelee and I. The women were outside cooking and I went out and sat down. They didn’t know what to think and I’m pretty sure I made a a big social boo-boo but I told them I needed to learn to cook “Ugandan” so I would like to watch them. Then they were thrilled. It’s definitely a different culture and we are always learning. I pray tonight that the food is good so we can eat it all. It’s hard to be treated like royalty when they have so little and I would never want to waste the little that they have given to us, because for them it is everything.

“in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude” Acts 24:3

**Note:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Apparently God wanted to put me to the test…I had just posted this, went over to our building to clean and Kimuli had come in and started rolling stain all over my floor. I had tested a couple tiles in our room and it worked well so we went and bought 15 cans of the same “mahogany” but it was not the same. So I stopped and was trying to decide what to do next. I had no idea he had come in the building until he came to me with a can of stain. When I went to look, it was a mess! But I straightened it up best I could and told him thank you but get out! No, I took him into the last room to paint white. I think we are done painting and now when I go to work in there I will lock all the doors! God, keep giving me Your Grace to get through this!

You see these mats everywhere, they are made from palm leaves that are sun dried and then dyed. Then they weave beautiful patterns into them. Mostly women but the plain mat I have was made by a man and it is plain by my request. They are used mainly to sit on so that you don’t have to sit on the ground, some are used to sleep on in huts. I am getting quite a collection of mats, people come to my door often wanting to sell me a mat. They sell for 10,000 shillings each, most of the time. That is $3 USD give or take a few cents. I did get taken when I first got here by a lady that was giving me a “deal” at 20,000 shillings! I buy them to use here on Sunday’s but I have given a couple away, gave one away at the hospital a couple of weeks ago. Patients family have to sit on the floor at the hospital so they bring mats if they have them. Mainly I try to support those who are trying to support themselves. For me $3 isn’t much but to them 10,000 shillings can go a long way. They put a lot of time into them, and I have seen some very intricate patterns. I wondered at all the powdered food coloring in the supermarkets, especially since cakes and cupcakes aren’t a big thing here, but found out that is what is used to color the leaves. I think maybe one day I will have to have someone teach me to weave mats!

Sunday School went great yesterday. The children even had answers about last weeks story and we could tell that some had thought about the story during the week, which is very encouraging. Derek helped me greatly, again! At the beginning of the week I give him a copy of the story we will be telling on Sunday and it is evident that he studies it. I tell the story with him interpreting but he also knows how to talk to the kids in a way they understand, and has a gift for asking the right questions. I was amazed at the participation of the children this week. I told Derek I had prayed for an interpreter to help me and God answered that prayer with so much more. Derek and another lady are going to a five-day teaching conference for Sunday School teachers and children’s ministry workers. I pray in the future, they will be able to tell the stories and lead Sunday School.

I am asking for help, for any donations to help Derek finish high school. Because of his grades and high exam scores, the school has offered him a scholarship of sorts, his tuition will all be paid for the final two years, but he needs help with books, uniforms and rent for this year. He has missed about a month of school this term because of lack of money. He previously has had to work on holiday and after school to pay for his education but has had trouble finding work lately. He has come over everyday and volunteered to paint and never asked for anything in return. It was just in conversation yesterday that he told me he has been praying for God to show him what to do about school, or to help him get a job to pay for it. His counselor told him if he can get the money he could still start this term. He needs $20 for two uniforms, $30 for books and approximately $10/month for rent for ten months. He is paying rent to stay off campus 1) it is a lot cheaper to not board but he is now staying with his brother 30 minutes away 2) he can leave on the weekends and come to service on Sunday. That is only around $150/year for this boy to finish school. He is smart and very polite and loves Jesus very much. Also, he wants to take a computer science class and it would be helpful if he had a laptop. I am looking into that but I think it will be close to $300 to get him one. If there is anyone out there that would like to contribute to Derek’s education let me know and I will give you the info on where to send it. I promise 100% will go to him and I know that it will be well worth investing into this boy’s life. I am giving him enough to get back in to school since he has helped me so much this week. (He has made the smallest mess while painting AND he cleans it up!) I believe in him and that he will take this opportunity and use it to better himself and to help others. If you can’t contribute, please pray for Derek. I know God has great plans for him.

Smokey enjoyed the story – he patiently waited for snack time!

She is the nursery care worker!

The nickname a lot of the guys have for Raelee is Carella. She gets irate at times and it only makes them do it more. I let it go because she is always messing with somebody so it is only fair for them to mess back. She is learning the language so fast. People love it when she spouts off a phrase, they laugh. She definitely knows the phrase “come here, I will beat you” Kimuli and Sharifu tell her that all the time. She informed me today that mazungu’s don’t say that, and I agreed that is probably not something we would should say to just anyone here! But I did tell Kimuli and Sharifu that Raelee taught me new words today and then in their language said it – they got a kick out of that. Especially since I only know two words in lusoga and still get it wrong as to when to say each. I usually answer people with one or the other and a question mark at the end!

Today, I heard a baby cry and cry outside so I went to see what was the matter. The boy was probably 15-18 months old, pantless, walking around our property crying. Sharifu had took him to the guard-house and dumped him on Kimuli and Kimuli put him back outside. I went and picked him up even though he clearly let me know he didn’t want me to pick him up, and I said very loudly, “Hey, that’s enough of that” He immediately quit crying! I asked Sharifu who this kid belonged to and why he was here all alone. Well, the mama was at the well earlier getting water and Raelee was playing with the baby and told the mama to leave him here so she could play with him. Then Raelee’s attention went somewhere else and she just left the baby. He lives right on the other side of our fence and I know his mama could hear him crying because I hear him crying all the time from my house. Sharifu had already gone to the fence trying to get her, I don’t know if she didn’t hear him or just was enjoying her freedom! So I carried him home. I told Sharifu AGAIN that they all have to learn to tell Raelee no. Sunday, the lady with twins was begging to go home but Raelee wouldn’t let her have her baby back. I tried to explain to Raelee today that people don’t want to say no to her, she is a novelty here, a little mazungu child that runs around just like they do (except fully clothed) and that is a new thing to them. And they love for us to give attention to their children. But it has gotten out of hand when she is kidnapping other people’s children. It was one thing to bring stray animals home, but children? I must put my foot down!

Yesterday we had to run errands in town and while Christian was in the hardware store/shack a very little girl – probably around four – came running to the truck. I opened my door and asked her how she was today and she said “I am fine” and held her arms up for me to pick her up. Christian was gone for a good twenty minutes and that little girl just sat in my lap silently while I talked to her. At one point she laid her head down on me and I thought she went to sleep. Her mama was nearby and a guy I assumed was her father was watching and smiling. When Christian came back he asked if she was going with us! I carried her back up to the sidewalk and she ran to her (father?). It was very sweet, especially when there are so many of the children who are scared of our light skin.

In the beginning of our adventure here, when we turned off the highway to come home there would be so many kids that get so excited, waving and yelling to us either “mazungu” “byee”  or they would yell “Wes” (the person we replaced). It’s like we are celebrities. Now when we drive down the road, they wave and laugh and jump up and down yelling “Raelee”! Seems like everyone knows Raelee, the crazy and fun mazungu girl! She is thriving here, and loved by just about everyone that comes in contact with her. Love her or shake their heads at some of her antics! I believe wholeheartedly that she will  grow up to reach the hearts of many, many people whether here or wherever God puts her. She is an amazing kid that is following right in her amazing brothers’ footsteps. We didn’t do her a favor taking her in – we are the ones that received the greatest gift. She can definitely be challenging, and as many people here say “stubborn” but well worth it!

A note about being pantless or even naked. I just went to check on my painters and there was a totally naked baby standing at the door squalling. His mama was nearby getting water and thankfully Raelee had other kids occupying her. Most babies do not wear diapers or pants. I have found that this is because 1) they can’t afford disposable diapers or even cloth diapers and 2) this saves on laundry and the water it takes to haul to do the laundry. Easy to potty train I guess, since they don’t have toilets anyway. Easter Sunday while we were in the church building I watched a little girl go right out the door by a tree and she looked left and right and then pulled her dress up and did her business. There was nobody to see her on the left or on the right, but everyone inside behind her could see her! Even older kids do not wear underpants. Let’s just talk about underpants for a second. Either you buy secondhand underwear, don’t wear any or spend outrageous prices to get new ones in Kampala! Now, I will wear previously owned dresses and skirts but I have to draw the line on secondhand undergarments! Ah, life here is so very interesting!

Today we had close to sixty children come to hear the Bible story. I used the flannel board that was graciously given by an anonymous donor. To him I say thank you so much for your gift. It makes it so easy to tell the stories and the colors and details keep their attention. Even when Christian stood in front of them with the camera taking pictures, they didn’t even look up at him. That is amazing in itself because whenever any of them see a camera that’s it for anything else. They all want to get their pictures taken! The story today was of Adam and Eve walking with God, about how beautiful the garden was and all the animals that Adam got to name. I learned something today – I told you we learn something new just about everyday! When most of us think of Africa, we automatically think of the animals: lions, tigers, giraffes, and I even hoped when I learned we were coming here that we just might have zebras walking around our property! But in actuality most of those animals are kept in preserves to protect them and also, here anyway, it is a way for the country to bring in revenue. Safari’s are very expensive here, running anywhere from $500 to $1000 per person. But I learned that because they aren’t common, when I showed the children a lion they didn’t know what it was. Crazy huh! But they aren’t educated, they aren’t exposed to TV or the world. I think that made the story even more interesting to them. Derek, my interpreter is so loving being able to be a part of teaching the children and I don’t think I have to worry anymore about having someone to help! He has come by the house everyday since Easter and he asked me today if he can come by this week just to talk about the Bible. He is the one that has been playing the Bible in their language for whoever will listen! Even Sharifu told me he enjoyed the story very much and he was a great help in serving the kids. He also was a great help with the board, it rained this morning and the wind kicked up and kept blowing the story pieces off. So he held onto parts of it for me.

Raelee was the best helper today. She helped prepare beforehand and she got the kids in line for the snacks we had prepared for them. There is a bread here, it looks like a hushpuppy on steroids but it is sweet, and deep fried. And very inexpensive! Mandaze are what they are called and we had forgotten to call her until last night but she still had them here, 100 of them by 9 am. We paid about $7 for all. She has come before when we had workers, she walks around the village to sell them everyday. Obviously at that price she doesn’t make a whole lot of money and she is a pretty elderly lady. I asked her if I pay her would she bring some everyday and 100 on Sunday, and she was overjoyed at that arrangement. I told her that there was only one problem with that that I could see and it is once word goes out I may start needing twice that on Sunday! She was very okay with that thought, and I don’t mind paying for it if it brings more kids in. They may come for the “doughnut” but they will hear about our God and God says:

“so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:11

It is seeds planted and it is not up to me whether the seed takes root and grows, God will take care of that. He just asks of all of us to plow and plant and if it is His Will we will also  reap the harvest. After the story, Ms Betty asked me how we know God more. I explained salvation again (I think I will need to do this every week) and most of the kids came forward. Partly because Ms Betty prompted, pulled and pushed them to! And that doesn’t matter, I still had tears in my eyes when I prayed with them and they repeated the words because I know that if only one really begins to seek Him then this is all worth it. We may not be able to affect many adults, but my prayer is we can with the little ones and their lives will be honored and blessed by God. I was also asked “what if I am an orphan and have no mother or no father?” That one really got to me, but I told them they can have a heavenly Father that loves them and wants His very best for them. I told them I am not saying it will be easy, but it will be worth it. They all said they loved the story and asked if I will tell them more next week. There were so many people that were coming to the well that also stopped to listen, and many hung out after. I think it was 2:00 before I got lunch for us made, but it was good, very good!

I had the best assistants!

There was no talking or messing around – they were so intent on the story and the pictures

Ms Betty. I would not want to be on her bad side! She herds these children so well!

Raelee sang Jesus Loves Me all by herself, Christian had already taken my camera inside so I missed that. I told her she would have to do it again next week. But she taught the children to sing part of it and they sang it with her!

Today Raelee, Christian and I went to Jinja for the day. We just walked around, ate, bought fabric for our couch, which to find what I really wanted in an environment that believes colors and tackiness is just the greatest was a miracle to me! I went to different fabric shops in our town and it cracks me up how they tell me what I really want. I don’t want denim blue, lime green is what I would like. And when I said no, they said my cushions would be ready in two days. “It’s okay?” No, it’s not okay! “Oh, we will surprise you and you will love it” Thanks but no thanks! So I put out a message on some expat Facebook pages for Jinja and two ladies told me a good place to go. They were right! It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind but close enough. And no lime green in sight! Then I went to the paint store, looking for a denim color and a couple colors that need to be for exterior. They had a color chart that they gave me to choose from but it all came down to the four colors they actually have! And none were in the realm I was thinking. Here, you get what you get and should be happy about it! Anyway, we got groceries and came home. It was just a good day for us to be together and at peace.

We still haven’t found out what has happened with the man that needed the amputation. We’ve asked Kimuli (his son) everyday and he says he doesn’t know. We gave him a few dollars to travel to the hospital to see. It’s so different here, we just can’t grasp the dynamics with family and friends. How can a son not know what is happening to his dad? They all have phones. Kimuli said he has called and called but the phone isn’t in service. I think some of it has to do with the wife that is with his dad currently. Two wives were at the first hospital, one went with him to the other hospital, Kimuli’s mother went home. I’m not sure we will ever get it.

So I have a song today. On a particularly bad day at the beginning of the week, I was sweeping our mess in the new home and feeling pretty sorry for myself, I had music playing and this song came on. It made me cry but it also changed my whole perspective back to where it should be. I don’t want to get jaded at all the corruption, or be bitter to people who are only doing what they have done long before we came here. I don’t even think most of the time the things they do are personal to us. I hope you listen and read the words and maybe have your perspective changed today. We have decided this is our theme song, and if we need to we will listen to it everyday to keep the perspective that God wants us to have. It’s only by God’s grace and the love of Christ our Savior that I am who I am today and been given Grace enough to forgive.

PS … I have had great help this week and on Monday the house will be mopped and ready to start the fun of painting and decorating and moving in! I have been encouraged in many, many ways this week. The young man that interpreted for me on Sunday has come by everyday and talked with us. Part of the reason I haven’t done more with the kids is not having interpreters. So he has agreed to help me tomorrow with our new flannel board and story telling. Also from that Sunday and movie, Kimuli and our day guard who are both muslim stood and listened and watched the end of the movie with Christ being crucified. This week I went out to the guardhouse to tell the day guard, Sherifu, something I needed him to do and they and three other guys were listening to the bible on one of their phones in their language. If that isn’t encouragement enough to keep going, then I need to pack it up! Please be praying for our continued persistence, grace and strength. Pray that this curiousity grows with these guys and God will open more doors for us to be able to witness to them. And pray for me tomorrow with these wild kids!

“God’s has perfect timing; never early, never late. It takes a little patience and a whole lot of faith… but it’s worth the wait.” *

This week God has really been working me over on waiting for Him, waiting on His timing. No matter how hard it gets, how impatient I get, and no matter what other’s think. I could have done some things differently this week – the way “I” thought they should be done, but I would never know if the outcome was the one God had planned.

Our former day guard, now our groundskeeper/Raelee wrangler/torturer/best friend – Kimuli, his dad has been sick. Very sick. We were asked for transport to a clinic, but we told them that we would, but it would have to be to Dr. Nelson or we wouldn’t pay for it. The dad wanted to go to a muslim hospital so we did give them transport. We kept getting told that he was sick, didn’t know if he was going to live but we never could find out where he was or what exactly was wrong. What we did know was it was something to do with his leg and it was swollen with skin peeling. After three days, Kimuli came to us with 3 pages of prescriptions costing 100,000 shillings. The only thing we could make out in those three pages was cellulitis. We told him we would give it to him this time but we needed a receipt. We haven’t gotten one. The very next day his dad was transferred to the main hospital ran by the government and we were told after he had been there three hours he has cancer in his leg and needs to have it amputated – for a million shillings. That is A LOT of money here. It’s around $300 USD but here, most people won’t even see 100,000 in their life. Kimuli didn’t come to us, and we weren’t asked to give the money. If they didn’t pay all the money up front, the hospital would just let him die. Christian wanted to give them the money, I didn’t. Not that I am cold-hearted or bitter, but for one they didn’t want our help until it came to money. Two, we didn’t know what was really going on with him so I couldn’t just blindly give out that much money and how would we do it? Would we have even more people coming to us? We did the only thing we knew to do, pray. Then we went to Dr. Nelson for advice. He told us that there is no way in three hours that they could determine cancer and decide to amputate. And if it was cellulitis all those prescriptions were for nothing, (and that clinic knew it) and it is possible that it might be treated. He also told us that the reason we didn’t get a receipt and won’t get one from this hospital IF we paid was that the government clinics and hospitals are supposed to be free care. He went with us to the hospital to see the man. (Which to us was a Godsend and over and above.) It is cellulitis, but the man had sat for months in pain not going for care and now from his toes up to his knees is rotted. I couldn’t even get close to his bed because of the smell. It was heartbreaking, frustrating, and so very sad all at the same time. Dr. Nelson said it could have been easily treated in the early stages when the swelling and pain started, but now he will have to have it amputated or he will die. So the hospital knows this is life or death, and obviously these people have no money. The man’s other leg is crippled so he will never walk or work again.

We came home and cried and argued over what to do. I still said no to putting out the money no questions asked. We’ve already seen the hospital is corrupt, what’s to say we give it and they demand more? Who do we give it to? And how do we know that is really the cost. We were told that they were trying to sell some land to come up with the money. This is where it gets so confusing here. I think chickens, livestock and any amount of land is like a savings account. They barely get by day-to-day but they will not get rid of any of it. Christian didn’t want them to lose their land. How do we know they don’t have twenty acres and might only have to sell two? How do we know if giving money is the right answer? I said we wait a day or two. He waited all this time, and he isn’t going to be much worse off in a couple of days. So we prayed. Yesterday we heard nothing – from God or anyone else. All night last night I lay awake and prayed. I thought about the three people we did send to the Dr. yesterday and how that would look to this man’s family. I thought about the building we are making into a home for ourselves and how that is looked at. I thought about all the advantages and blessings I have and how could I deny this family a chance?  This morning we talked to our farm manager who says they still don’t have the money. Christian had many of the same thoughts I had, and we decided we would pay it. We tried to figure out how we could do it anonymously but then realized maybe that wouldn’t be the right way to witness. So we went back to Dr. Nelson to get his advice again. He has been having a rough week himself, he says too many very sick children have come to the hospital – two from our worker that have very advanced malaria and infection. But he took the time to talk with us and found out who the Dr that would be operating was so that we could go to him because he was actually the one wanting the money. Dr. Nelson was concerned (as were we) that if we gave it to the wrong person it would disappear. We thanked him for all he does for us and he called us his friends, which means more than he will ever know to us.

We went directly to the hospital and ran into one of our workers. We were trying to figure out where to go, and were told they were trying to find transport to take Kimuli’s dad to another hospital for the surgery. They couldn’t get a taxi van or car because by this time the smell was so overwhelming no one would let him into their vehicle. They were looking for a truck. We have a truck! So we transported him and 6 others about an hour away to a catholic hospital. Christian helped the men get him checked in and settled. They immediately bathed him. The surgery will be tomorrow, and from what little we have gathered it is not going to cost as much. It seems that a man with the group – who has lost his leg – is giving them some money. Christian paid for antibiotics he will have to take for the next 4 days. We don’t believe in coincidence and it was perfect timing with our arrival at the hospital. While I was waiting with Raelee  I thought of some things…

We get to where we think we know what the best thing is for somebody else. If this man is already struggling over losing his livelihood, and part of his body – what would it do to him to have to accept the money from people he doesn’t even like? How do we know that what we did today didn’t have more of an impact on him? It all comes down to faith – the faith that God is there, listening, and will answer in His own time and according to HIS plans. If we were supposed to have done something yesterday, I know He would have let us know.

Some weeks it seems everyday is a battle and some weeks we just get plain tired of it all and instead of turning to the One Who can make the burden lighter, we tune everything out and it only compounds and makes the little things bigger. I don’t want to get jaded or bitter. I want to love and there is only one way to do that – Jesus. Focusing on Him instead of the problems. Looking at people through His eyes. And remembering that He brought us here for His purposes and He will bring us through it all. Pray for us, that the struggles won’t become the thing we focus on and lose sight of the blessings and the love.

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9

• taken from wordinspiration.wordpress.com