Reflections

2014 has come and gone, with it many memories. As I sit here and reflect I think about where I was and more importantly who I was as a person last year.

This past year has been many things including good and bad. But mostly really good. Some highlights were going to Uganda for the first time, learning more about God everyday, spending countless wonderful hours with family, experiencing my first break up (who would have thought you don't cry and eat pounds of chocolate like in the movies), hearing God's call to my life, going to Uganda round 2, the passing of my Grandpa and how God actually blessed us far more than I could imagine in that process, my mom graduating!

If I think back to this time last year. Remember Uganda is 8 hours ahead. So I was probably just getting ready for the day. And what an exciting day it would be. New Year's Day was a treat for the children and they were able to go to Lake Victoria! Wow what an awesome day that turned out to be. You would not believe how thankful the kids were.
Like I have said many times before this trip changed me, but I didn't really know how much until lately. Coming home I new Uganda was a place that needed help and I wanted to be the one to help, but I also really liked my life in the US. I thought it would be much better if I would like take a trip to Uganda twice a year to "do my part" with helping the poor and seeing the kids that I really did miss a lot. Best of both worlds RIGHT?? Well that is what I thought so come July I headed back!

This second trip proved to be a little more difficult. But in the process God was growing me showing me new things and asking what I was willing to give up for him. I came home after my month still in love with the kids and missing them dearly but positive that long term missions was not for me!

This awesome God I serve has other plans. I have felt a constant push from God to follow him and serve the least of these, while bringing word of his Salvation to those that don't know. God has been asking me what I am willing to give up for him even if that is my comfortable life here or even my family! I know it won't be easy but God does promise that it will be soooo worth it.

So now as I look ahead to 2015, I have no clue where this year will take me. I pray that where ever I go that it is at the center of God's will.
Over the next year I want to prayerfully ask where God would send me and what he would have me do. So I ask for your help in this please keep me in your prayers as I seek God's will for my life.

May all of you feel God's loving hands around you in this next year
Blessings and Happy New Year!
Love,
Auntie Alyssa

Trevor the boy who never stops smiling

Today as it snowed and the wind blew hard, my grandma, me and my uncle Tony made our way to visit the orthopedic surgeon. You see they both have bad hips and knees that need fixing. We made it safely to the appointment thanks to things like a nice vehicle, snow plows, people who salt the road, and the grace of God. After arriving we were seated in nice comfy chairs with many magazines to look through, and a coffee machine with about a million options to choose from.

This brought back many memories of the many trips I took to the hospital in Kampala, Uganda last December. Only this hospital was extremely different from the one I was at today.

Mama DeDe who I told you about in my last blog would go to the hospital twice a day to take care of a boy named Trevor. Trevor lived on the streets and had gotten his back injured in the falling of an unfinished building that he was trying to sleep in, to get out of the rain. We would go twice a day to bring him breakfast and dinner.

Our trips to the hospital would usually go something like this....we would cook or buy some food to take to Trevor. We would then walk to the main road where we would hail a boda (motorcycle taxi) which we would all squeeze onto. That would include the driver, me, and DeDe...quite a few people for a small motorcycle. We would then be on our way! Weaving in and out of traffic...but most times our trusty boda would run out of gas or breakdown. But we didn't let any of that stop us.

Eventually we would make it to the hospital but it didn't get any better from there...Imagine this with me. Making your way to the building you look down to make sure you don't step in a bloody bandage on the ground that has fallen from someone. You enter inside and search to find the ward where Trevor is being kept. But the smell reaches you as you are walking down the hallway. Entering the ward you see beds lined against every space there is on the walls. Urine collecting underneath some of the beds. Pins sticking out of peoples arms and legs. Families sleeping on mats on the floor to be with there loved ones...and then we find Trevor. Trevor broke his back and was in lots of pain but every time we went this is how we found him.

You would never find Trevor not smiling. It's just how he is, he has one of those smiles that no matter how hard the day was he makes you smile happy. Trevor eventually (after about a week and a half) was able to leave the hospital but needed to wear a brace.

When I returned to Uganda this July I found Trevor like this..

He is now living at the orphanage, playing soccer with the other boys, forever smiling, and giving an amazing testimony of how thankful he is for his life! I was able to take Trevor to an orthopedic surgeon while I was there. We had great news saying surgery would not be needed and that we will just watch it as he keeps growing.

It is so amazing to see how far this boy has come. To see him learn more and more about Jesus. To have been able to help him read his Bible. To be able to play games and show him love. And to see him thank Jesus for his life. What an amazing thing! 

God is doing lots in the lives of these children and I believe they will all go on to great things and serve him in all that they do

Again thanks for reading,

May God bless,

Alyssa

Meeting God halfway around the world

I ask that all of you bare with me...you see I'm new to blogging and writing is not my specialty. I finally decided to start one after reading my cousin Rachel's blog. She isn't the best at writing, but she's funny so she can get away with it. I on the other hand am not funny and not a good writer...so I'm doomed!

I've been asked multiple times if I was going to start a blog telling of my trips to Uganda, truthfully I didn't even know how to start a blog... As you can tell I have figured it out!!

You may have seen my title...not of this post, but the whole blog. If you haven't, take a look :) Yesu Akwagala means Jesus loves you in Luganda. What an amazing thing Jesus loves you, so simple but unbelievable to understand..Jesus loves me. Me even me, after all I've done He loves even me. I'm so glad I learned this phrase I can now tell all the children I meet that Jesus loves them in their own language!

Anyways let me tell you a little more of what I have done. It has been almost a year since my first trip to Uganda. The place where I left a piece of my heart.

With faces like this I'm sure you can understand why it is so hard to leave and why I love going back.

But it wasn't all sunshine and roses. I was going to be gone for 2 weeks and I was traveling alone which was a first for me. I made all my flights and arrived safely, praise the Lord. But when I got to Entebbe, Uganda and walked out of the airport. All I wanted to do was turn around and book a flight back home, I was scared. I didn't know anyone and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. 

But God is good and provides every time. I met an amazing woman of God from the states. Mama DeDe was serving at the orphanage the same time I was. We hit it off right away! Everything we did we found joy. DeDe was like a mom and a best friend all in the same person!

This doesn't really tell you anything I did..so I had the honor of volunteering for a great organization. Raising up Hope for Uganda (RUHU). The staff has some of the biggest hearts I have ever seen there is always room to help one more child. When I was there last December the children were off of school. So I was blessed to spend a lot of time just loving on them and helping providing everyday needs. I also spent a lot of time at the hospital with one of the kids who hurt is back and had to stay in the hospital 5 days. We also did a slum outreach to street children. This was like nothing I have ever seen. I will go more in depth on other posts about what all happens when I am there. 

I wish I could say that my trips are all about the children, all about what is being done for them. Which it is all about them but it is also about me how my life changes because of what I've experienced half way around the world. You see when I am there most days I don't have power, never a TV, my friends aren't there, neither is my family. So you understand with nothing to distract me, I found God in a very real way. It really is true when you bless others, you are blessed just as much if not more.

May God bless you all 

With much love 

Alyssa