Photos from the Past Few Weeks

Katelin's 13th Birthday!

Safari in Murchison Falls Uganda

Hope Kids (Boys and Girls Group), Rainbow at Field of Dreams and Girls doing Hope Talent Show

Fun Times in Uganda

Trying to Take the Opportunities to Love on Purpose

I am trying to catch up on our blog. Here is a post I wrote a few weeks ago.

Our Awaken to Love team was a blast! God encountered every person on our team and it was a pleasure to be able to host it all!

I think we have finally recouped from facilitating the team for 3 weeks. It has been fun to reminisce and begin to “digest” all that happened during our trip this year. Mike and I were both remembering our Awaken to Love team from last year. The joy of relishing in all God did was temporarily taken when Katelin and I came down with malaria. We can’t believe that was a year ago and now to see all that God has done since them is overwhelming!

I can remember recouping from the sickness. I had consistent headaches for months and was very weak. One evening I was sitting on my couch with my dad celebrating my steady recovery. As I pondered out the window towards my beautiful rose garden, I remember saying to him, “Since God saved my life, how can I not say yes to whatever he has in store for me, even moving to Uganda.” At the time we didn’t know we would indeed be given the chance to serve and show HIS love in this beautiful country.

Now as I think of my rose garden (which I miss terribly – isn’t that silly!), I’ve come to realize there is a different kind of rose garden before my eyes. There is a unique kind of beauty all around me here in Uganda. Here are a couple of things I can see:

·        The opportunity to visit a sick child day after day is such a beautiful thing. In our last blog, I shared our experience of praying for little Justine after she passed away. Shortly after her passing, another one of the little girls in the home got sick – Zaitum. She is a precious gem whose eyes are always gleaming light and purity at you. When she fell sick, of course the reminder of Justine’s loss of life came to our minds. I spent so much time praying for her, but also visiting her and making sure she was able to go to the doctor for treatment. I remember touching her feverish body and telling her she would not die like Justine. She didn’t need to be afraid. My heart was so heavy to see her sick. Her eyes spoke volumes and seemed so lifeless. I brought her a chilled orange on one of my visits which I had bought from a supermarket in Kampala and she immediately began to suck on a piece as though it were candy. As she lay so delicate and weak, I found myself fighting off a fear of losing her too. The next day as I visited her, she was getting better and a little glimmer of life appeared in her eyes. As I walked up, she gave me a big smile and I then knew she would be fine. Who would have ever thought the little twinkle of an eye or smile from child would exude so much beauty and splendor. 

·        Hearing testimonies and stories from some of our team (who just left a little over a week ago)of how God touched their hearts and awakened them to love. These kinds of things make you realize how precious your choices really are in this life. What if we had decided to pass up this opportunity to live in Uganda? What if the comforts of home had wooed us to stay in America? I’m not implying that it’s because of us that God did amazing things in anyone’s heart. He could have used another opportunity in their life, but he used this one – Awaken to Love. He gave us the chance to preserver towards our hearts desires. Our passion is to inspire others to live on purpose. When you hear someone testify that God is alive to them more now than when they first arrived in Uganda…well, that really does make it all worth it! (there are so many more testimonies to share. We are hoping to post some of them through SMI’s posts)

Lori

Working to Put the Witchdoctors Out of Business!

First off, we want to thank every one of you for the prayers, encouraging words and financial support while we are here serving in Uganda. We couldn't do this without you!

Today was one of the most amazing days I’ve had in a while. The love of God showed up in a huge way. Let me recap from last week.

Last week we went to a car dealership to pick up a car we had purchased. While we were sitting waiting patiently for our car to get released from the car lot, I looked over to a man and heard the Lord whisper in my ear that he had been battling sickness. It was such a random thought, it caught me off guard. As I studied the man, I didn’t see anything that seemed to be wrong with him, so I just waited. While pondering what I should do, I decided I would wait to before I said anything until we were just about to leave the lot, because that way, if I was totally off or the guy thought I was crazy, I could head on out, never to see him again. 

As we prepared to depart, I asked to see the man, who I found out was named Charles. Charles is the brother of our car salesman. Fred (our salesman) proceeded to tell me Charles had left. Feeling like I’d missed my opportunity; I quickly shared with Fred what the Lord spoke to me. My heart was pounding in my ears as I told him the entire scenario. Fred just looked at me and kind of smiled. I felt so dumb, but I’d done my part.

Three days later, Mike received a text from Fred’s brother. This is what it said, “Praise God Lori Salley. I am called Charles. God revealed to you my sickness. I am requesting that you share with me a word of God. I think time has come for me to be set free. Is it possible for both of us to meet?” A couple hours later I got a call from him. He confirmed he had been battling a sickness for many years and none of the doctors knew what was wrong with him. I prayed with him over the phone and told him I would plan to stop in to see him in the next week.

Of course, the entire week got away from me and I didn’t get to go and visit Charles. This morning while our team was praying, I had a strong feeling I was to go and pray with him. I was planning to go to the birthday party at Hope, but the feeling to go pray with Charles would not leave.  

To go visit Charles wasn’t just a jump in the car and go around the corner type of thing. No, it meant, traveling the bumpy roads through the villages, driving to the main road, through the typical round about traffic jams which all takes over an hour one way!

We gave Charles a call to let him know we were available to meet with him.  He wasn’t comfortable meeting at his office, so we picked him up and took him for a cup of coffee.

This is where the story gets fun! Charles shared with us his battle with this unknown sickness. It started in 1984! At first he had nightmares all the time. Soon after, he described hearing voices and something poking him when he would sleep. The story went on and on until he finally began to suffer from pain all over his body. As he was sharing his story, he told us he had felt as though there was no hope and that he was going to die. Just then our waitress walked up to take our orders. I noticed her name and knew there was something to it. Her name was Hope. Mike encouraged Charles that Hope was here today to help him. Charles looked amazed. I shared with him again exactly how I heard from the Lord about his sickness. We also told him that God may have very well sent us all the way from the USA just to share Jesus’ love with him. Suddenly, we could all feel a peace in the air. Charles bowed his head and began to weep. In the middle of a coffee shop, this 46 year old man was sensing the presence of God. We all were! He was weeping with thankfulness and awe. If you know me, I am such a crier, so I was doing my best to hold back the tears.

We then began to share Jesus with him. Not about a religion or about a church, but about a Savior who loves Charles. A Savior who knows what Charles has been battling. A Savior who sent two strangers to share just how much he is loved. Charles has heard about Jesus before, but had never truly given his heart to him. 

As we continued sharing more with him, his eyes lit up with life. Today was his day to finally say yes to Jesus! Mike led him through a prayer. His countenance began to change. He described that he was feeling lighter with a new freedom and peace. 

Afterwards, Charles then asked for advice. He had been so desperate for healing, he began visiting not only doctors for help, but witchdoctors as well. The witchdoctor gave him charms to carry with him as well as requiring him to visit the witchdoctor’s shrine to worship demons. He acknowledged that this was causing him to be financially bankrupt not to mention spiritually/physically drained as well.

As we concluded our meeting, Charles shared with us how his heart was so touched. He hafd known so many others who have been suffering and praying faithfully. They had not resorted to witchdoctors like he had, but yet, Jesus, spoke to us about him. “What a loving God we have”, Charles declared. “A God who is forgiving.” He again began to weep!

(Witchdoctors are real people! Here in Uganda the light and dark are so evident. It isn't just some fairytale like the Disney movies portray, this stuff is real!)

I am in awe as I write up this experience. The love Jesus has for us all! The fact that he uses people to deliver a life altering word to someone is amazing. What an honor to work together with the creator of this universe. Jesus is so amazing! He knows everyone one of us. He cares so much about us too.

Finally, as we were leaving, Charles shared that at the moment, he was not in any pain. Today Charles’ heart was touched with Love. WE know LOVE NEVER FAILS!

We are excited to see what the next weeks hold for Charles. We plan to meet with him weekly to share more about Jesus. He is planning to attend a church tomorrow.

Lori

PS – When Fred delivered the message to Charles, he first asked Charles, “Did you share anything with this woman about your sickness?” When Charles said no, Fred was in awe. He then passed on the word I gave. I know God has something special in the plans for Fred as well!