Sunday, August 7, 2011
Three Brothers. One cow. A great honor.
written by Hannah Smith
My brothers, Timothy (15), Thaddeus (14), and Zachary (10), raised 1000 US dollars to purchase a cow to give to a family here in Uganda. They told me before I came here that they wanted me to help deliver it to the family. Me? ME?! Why me?! I feel so so so honored to be a part of this adventure!!
A teacher for the 6th grade class at the Molalla middle school named Becky Bryan started the cow project. Several years back, she helped her class raise money to purchase a cow through Next Generation Ministries. The first cow was impregnated and given to Abdu's mother, Sarah.
The first heifer the cow births is given back to the project, so that the giving can continue, but all the rest of the offspring and milk are for the family to keep.
Becky died of cancer on Christmas Eve a few years ago. We all miss her so much, but her legacy lives on in Uganda through each cow that's donated.
Thursday night, all night, I slept with the sound of pouring rain and distant thunder as my lullaby. The flashes of lightning making the room brighter than day for split seconds. So when Uncle Paul, Abdu, Sarah, Rose, and I arrived in Naminya Friday morning, there was red mud everywhere... sticking to our shoes and just about everything else :)
Ronald and Herbert were waiting at the highway where we parked the van with the cow (the 8th given), pregnant and ready for a new home. We started down a very African dirt (or should I say mud) road trailing along after the men leading the cow.
The joy on their faces when we arrived at Mzee (moo-zay... a respected person) Joshua and Mama Beatrice's home... oh, it was so beautiful to behold!! We gave big hugs, took pictures... the whole time I felt like a little kid at Christmas, but this time, I was delivering the gift, not receiving it.
We walked up behind the house, up the hill to a clearing in the in trees. There was a cement pad with a pole structure and some tin sheets forming a shelter. A feed box overflowing with vegetation and several cement water troughs.
Uncle Paul asked them what they wanted to call their cow. After a conversation in Luganda, they agreed on the name Jessica.
Mzee and Mama told us that Big John, a corrupted "pastor" of a church in Naminya and former husband of their daughter Adisa, had bought them a cow years before. They had built the shelter we were seeing for that cow. The cow had two babies. And then Big John came back, took all the cows, and sold them. Joshua and Beatrice didn't get one shilling from the sale of the cows.
They said they shed many tears over that loss, but Jessica's arrival washed all those tears away.
God works in mysterious ways.... and we never know all of His reasons. But I believe He wanted to demonstrate His love to Joshua and Beatrice, who have gone through some really hard things, in a tangible way.
Abdu and their son Cannon gave instruction on how to care for the cow. Rose took tons of pictures. Sarah laughed with me as joy spilled out and love overflowed. I prayed over Mzee and Mama.... for their future with Jessica.
It was a sweet morning. A moment I'm sooooo thankful I got to be a part of. God was in all of it.
Thank you Timothy, Thaddeus, and Zachary for giving me the opportunity to witness God at work. You have no idea how much this means to me that you asked me to help deliver this cow. You also have no idea the difference you are making in Uganda. I pray that Father God blesses you for your servant hearts. I love you all so much.
~ Hannah Smith
My brothers, Timothy (15), Thaddeus (14), and Zachary (10), raised 1000 US dollars to purchase a cow to give to a family here in Uganda. They told me before I came here that they wanted me to help deliver it to the family. Me? ME?! Why me?! I feel so so so honored to be a part of this adventure!!
A teacher for the 6th grade class at the Molalla middle school named Becky Bryan started the cow project. Several years back, she helped her class raise money to purchase a cow through Next Generation Ministries. The first cow was impregnated and given to Abdu's mother, Sarah.
The first heifer the cow births is given back to the project, so that the giving can continue, but all the rest of the offspring and milk are for the family to keep.
Becky died of cancer on Christmas Eve a few years ago. We all miss her so much, but her legacy lives on in Uganda through each cow that's donated.
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| walking Jessica |
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| "What's over there?" |
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| "I have no idea!" |
Ronald and Herbert were waiting at the highway where we parked the van with the cow (the 8th given), pregnant and ready for a new home. We started down a very African dirt (or should I say mud) road trailing along after the men leading the cow.
The joy on their faces when we arrived at Mzee (moo-zay... a respected person) Joshua and Mama Beatrice's home... oh, it was so beautiful to behold!! We gave big hugs, took pictures... the whole time I felt like a little kid at Christmas, but this time, I was delivering the gift, not receiving it.
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| Happy faces :) |
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| shelter |
Mzee and Mama told us that Big John, a corrupted "pastor" of a church in Naminya and former husband of their daughter Adisa, had bought them a cow years before. They had built the shelter we were seeing for that cow. The cow had two babies. And then Big John came back, took all the cows, and sold them. Joshua and Beatrice didn't get one shilling from the sale of the cows.
They said they shed many tears over that loss, but Jessica's arrival washed all those tears away.
God works in mysterious ways.... and we never know all of His reasons. But I believe He wanted to demonstrate His love to Joshua and Beatrice, who have gone through some really hard things, in a tangible way.
 |
| Cannon |
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| Uncle Paul and Abdu |
Abdu and their son Cannon gave instruction on how to care for the cow. Rose took tons of pictures. Sarah laughed with me as joy spilled out and love overflowed. I prayed over Mzee and Mama.... for their future with Jessica.
It was a sweet morning. A moment I'm sooooo thankful I got to be a part of. God was in all of it.
 |
| Praying |
~ Hannah Smith
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The Dove Voice Band - my brothers
After being pushed out of there native country of Congo--largely refugees to the west, they settled in Uganda. By the grace of God they found each-other, created relationships with each-other and are now a Band. They have been composing, singing, and making music together over the past two year. They are truly amazing, talented men! You can visit the Dove Voice Band Blog here.
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| Sami, Mr. Serge, Yves, Boris, Convoi, Jackson, Mukuki, Jimmy, Young Serge, Freddy, Innocent, Joseph, Aksanti, Hope, and Robert with Mama Pam. |
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| Robert |
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| Sami, Sarah and Boris |
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| The Dove guys practicing before the concert |
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| Sami |
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| Mukuki, Robert and Jackson |
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| Young Serge |
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| Jackson and Mukuki |
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| Aksanti |
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| Aksanti and Jimmy |
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Mr. Serge Aksanti, Joseph, Mr. Serge and Sami |
Monday, August 1, 2011
A New Begining
Something amazing happened to me Thursday the 28th. It was an amazing and mysterious night. I don't know how well I can explain all that happened....but I will try! :)
6 of the Dove Voice guys had come home with Paul and Pam Wednesday night from picking a couple from the airport. They arrived back home at 2:00am Thursday morning. I was so excited to have my amazing brothers of the Dove Voice Band back at arms reach. In fact, I was so happy that I was awake at 6:00am, ready for the day, ready to greet my brothers and give them all hugs.
We spent the day just hanging out, spending quality time together, talking, and loving each other. After dinner, 2 more of the Dove guys joined us for a time of worship..(my favorite part of the day!)....just before we all gathered in the sitting room, the power went out. Honestly I didn't care! We lit candles, which created a very peaceful serene feeling to everything...it was perfect!!
The Dove Voice opened by singing a song called Upendo (which means love). It gave me chills all down my spine. I've never had music minister to me as much as it did that night! As they sang, I felt convicted and began to pray. I cried out to God, repenting and asking for strength to be the person that He wants me to be, praying that He would take away my fear, praying that whenever I opened my mouth, words would be given to me to speak into other peoples' lives. I didn't know why those things had come to mind; there are so many other things in my life--in my heart that need change.
" I just want to live for you Jesus, I want to live for You.......I want to live for you, I want to live for you Jesus"
...over and over and over again I cried.
I continued to cry and pray through the next couple of songs, then silence overtook the room, a deep but quiet voice spoke, a chair was placed in the center of the room. Hope (from the Dove Voice Band) began to prophesy, first that there was spiritual warfare against love.....they had Papa Paul sit in the chair and began to pray (African style). Everybody, all-at-once, in their own language prayed against the evil spirits.
Hope continued to prophesy through the darkness. We prayed and prayed again. You could sense spiritual warfare, the presence of demons, yet the Holy Spirit was there too!
The power came on. Many eyes were damp with tears. We all stood, took each others' hands to make a circle, and prayed again...opening up our hearts to God. Then to my surprise, Hope said that they were going to pray for me. Me? Why me? I was overwhelmed. I slowly made my way to the chair that was in the center of the room when a hand reached out and took the chair away. Freddy (another of the Dove guys) said that God told him that I was supposed to kneel instead of sit, so I did. Hope prophesied Ephesians 6:14 - 15 over me. He said that I would be filled with the Holy Spirit, that God had plans for me and that I needed to not be afraid. He said that I needed to be ready, I needed to put on my shoes and buckle my belt.
Papa, Freddy, and Jeff came to me, put their hands on me, and then the whole room was filled with voices lifted up in prayer, louder and louder. Emotion flooded my soul. Tears rolled down my face and splashed onto Freddy's hands that were holding mine. Slowly by slowly the voices faded. I thought that it was over but Freddy kept praying. He was speaking in his own language so I couldn't understand what he was saying but somehow I knew. I needed to let go. Every emotion swept over me and I was unable to control myself. I wept and my body shook. I can't explain how I felt; it's almost impossible to recount. There was helplessness, disappointment, shame, grief, the pressure of my feelings/emotions and something else (which I know now was the Holy Spirit) knocked me to the ground. Still praying, Freddy touched my shoulders.....then my feet, and I was unable to move. I felt the presence of God and was filled with peace, a peace that I had never felt before. Then Lyzette (Jeff's wife) took my hand and gently brought me to my feet and set me in a chair. The room was quiet and Mama Pam put her arm around me. At that moment I knew that my life had been changed, that I had experienced revival, and that I had been given a new beginning.
6 of the Dove Voice guys had come home with Paul and Pam Wednesday night from picking a couple from the airport. They arrived back home at 2:00am Thursday morning. I was so excited to have my amazing brothers of the Dove Voice Band back at arms reach. In fact, I was so happy that I was awake at 6:00am, ready for the day, ready to greet my brothers and give them all hugs.
We spent the day just hanging out, spending quality time together, talking, and loving each other. After dinner, 2 more of the Dove guys joined us for a time of worship..(my favorite part of the day!)....just before we all gathered in the sitting room, the power went out. Honestly I didn't care! We lit candles, which created a very peaceful serene feeling to everything...it was perfect!!
The Dove Voice opened by singing a song called Upendo (which means love). It gave me chills all down my spine. I've never had music minister to me as much as it did that night! As they sang, I felt convicted and began to pray. I cried out to God, repenting and asking for strength to be the person that He wants me to be, praying that He would take away my fear, praying that whenever I opened my mouth, words would be given to me to speak into other peoples' lives. I didn't know why those things had come to mind; there are so many other things in my life--in my heart that need change.
" I just want to live for you Jesus, I want to live for You.......I want to live for you, I want to live for you Jesus"
...over and over and over again I cried.
I continued to cry and pray through the next couple of songs, then silence overtook the room, a deep but quiet voice spoke, a chair was placed in the center of the room. Hope (from the Dove Voice Band) began to prophesy, first that there was spiritual warfare against love.....they had Papa Paul sit in the chair and began to pray (African style). Everybody, all-at-once, in their own language prayed against the evil spirits.
Hope continued to prophesy through the darkness. We prayed and prayed again. You could sense spiritual warfare, the presence of demons, yet the Holy Spirit was there too!
The power came on. Many eyes were damp with tears. We all stood, took each others' hands to make a circle, and prayed again...opening up our hearts to God. Then to my surprise, Hope said that they were going to pray for me. Me? Why me? I was overwhelmed. I slowly made my way to the chair that was in the center of the room when a hand reached out and took the chair away. Freddy (another of the Dove guys) said that God told him that I was supposed to kneel instead of sit, so I did. Hope prophesied Ephesians 6:14 - 15 over me. He said that I would be filled with the Holy Spirit, that God had plans for me and that I needed to not be afraid. He said that I needed to be ready, I needed to put on my shoes and buckle my belt.
Papa, Freddy, and Jeff came to me, put their hands on me, and then the whole room was filled with voices lifted up in prayer, louder and louder. Emotion flooded my soul. Tears rolled down my face and splashed onto Freddy's hands that were holding mine. Slowly by slowly the voices faded. I thought that it was over but Freddy kept praying. He was speaking in his own language so I couldn't understand what he was saying but somehow I knew. I needed to let go. Every emotion swept over me and I was unable to control myself. I wept and my body shook. I can't explain how I felt; it's almost impossible to recount. There was helplessness, disappointment, shame, grief, the pressure of my feelings/emotions and something else (which I know now was the Holy Spirit) knocked me to the ground. Still praying, Freddy touched my shoulders.....then my feet, and I was unable to move. I felt the presence of God and was filled with peace, a peace that I had never felt before. Then Lyzette (Jeff's wife) took my hand and gently brought me to my feet and set me in a chair. The room was quiet and Mama Pam put her arm around me. At that moment I knew that my life had been changed, that I had experienced revival, and that I had been given a new beginning.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Masese
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".........Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these--"
".........Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these--"
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Where the struggle is real, but joy is present
Yesterday I experienced what is the slums of Jinja, a small village called Masese populated by a tribe called the karamojong. there are no words to explain the pain I feel, how my heart is broken.....as soon as we got out of the van we were swarmed by Mother and fatherless children who were malnourished (to put it I a nice way) filthy, half clothed, scared and infected with ringworm, jiggers, scabies...etc; Smoke, urine, garbage and other unrecognizable smell's were enough to make any person sick. but my heart went out to these children, I didn't mind the fact that my skin, once white, was know tan with the stain of dirt. I didn't mind that the children around me were infected with highly contagious illnesses. I was completely numb and it wasn't till we had left the village and headed home that the emotions flooded in, big heaping sobs that were uncontrollable. I knew that in coming to Africa I would encounter these types of living circumstances, I wasn't oblivious to the fact that there were places in the world like Masese, but it is totally different to experience it.....it's shocking. This note does no justice for what i saw yesterday.....but it does give you a little glimpse into my heart and life here in Uganda Africa.
Ariving in Uganda
We've been here for just 2 weeks and already my heart is so so full. I’m going to try to put everything I've been feeling into words, I know its going to be difficult for me because I‘m not at all good at putting my feeling and thoughts into words…..or even speaking for that matter, but just stick with me as best you can.
I’ve been so so excited about coming to Africa and now that I am finally here its hard to even believe it’s real!
I’ve been so so excited about coming to Africa and now that I am finally here its hard to even believe it’s real!
So first I’ll try to explain what I feel God has been doing in my heart so far--awareness and closeness in my relationship with God are too areas in my life that I know I have not been in touch with, but here…..I’ve found it. I have a new awareness of God in other peoples’ lives and an awareness of how much I have left God out of my life. My personal devotions in the morning are so sweet, and sometimes I’m so aware of God’s presence with me in that sweet time that I’m completely unaware of the things going on around me…..at home I was always distracted by everything that I wouldn’t really get into my devotions, I wouldn’t really seek for what God wanted to teach me or speak to me through His word, and most of the time when I did actually sit down to have that alone time with God it was because I felt guilty for not devoting time to Him every day, so I wasn’t growing in Christ…I wasn’t getting anything out of my devotions. I think that what changed me in this area was my openness with the girls here, I feel that when I admitted to the girls how unsteady my relationship with God is, I was admitting that to myself, to God, and that alone brought me closer to Him! But I know that this is just the beginning, its just one ripple in a huge title-wave.
One of the highlights of this trip so far has been hanging out with, and getting to know, the guys in the Dove Voice Band. They are all so so talented and definitely very serious about there relationship with God; I cant help but be encouraged when I with them, and I’m glad to call them my brothers.
We went to there concert on the 7th at a restaurant in Jinja called The Keep. It was amazing! I had a great time!! Near the end of the concert the Dove boys always encourage everybody to dance, so little by little people got up to dance and pretty soon they had a conga line going! Paul and Pam got up and dance for everybody, so did Blair and Robyn and eventually the guys called Sarah, Hannah and I up to dance in front of everyone…..haha yeah, they thought it was fun! :P Everybody was having so much fun dancing that the Dove boys had to ask them to sit down so that the concert could proceed!! The time that we have spent with the Dove boys has been so so good, and I’m really excited to get to know them all better!
I have absolutely loved getting to know Hannah, Sarah, Blair and Robyn! our time together has been so sweet! I believe that I have made friends for life with these amazing girls. God has blessed our friendship with unity and oneness. I’m completely overwhelmed by all of the good things flowing from the progressing relationship between the five of us. I’m learning so much from these girls including how to be open and not ashamed of what I‘m feeling. I’m even learning how to put thoughts into words. Just in 2 weeks our bond has rocketed through the roof! I love them so so much; I can’t explain it! J Its not a coincidence that I was unable to come to Africa till now….. at the time it was frustrating to wait for God’s timing, but now I understand why I had to wait and I’m so grateful because I get to experience life with these girls. This week Jeff (papa hunters African son) found a house/apartment for him, his wife and two son’s here I Jinja not fare from here (the Hunters compound) so we’ve been helping Jeff clean it, paint it, fix the windows, pluming……etc; it was in really bad shape when he paid for it but know you can hardly tell that it’s the same place, Praise the Lord! Last Thursday we went to Mama Sera’s house to have devotions with her boys, it was so good (I still cant remember all there name’s) she’s taken 23 boys into her home and became there mama! They are all very sweet, let me tell you….its hard to divide your attention between 23 boy that are all longing for your attention! Jeff lead us in worship, then prayer and afterwards Solomon (a pastor from Barara that was staying with us) gave a short message…..all I can say is that it was so so good, and I cant wait to spend more time in worship with them!
Tomorrow, July 19th the team from Pocatello gets here….I have a feeling that the next 2 weeks will be very busy! I’m so excited to get out and see more of Africa, but until then I have nothing more to say! J Besides what I’ve already told you we went shopping, swimming, visited 2 different church’s and spent the night at mama Sera’s house with the boys.
Yes, Africa is very different from the U.S. but I think that now that I’m here the U.S is more of a culture shock to me then Africa.
As you all know I LOVE IT HERE and I’m already praying about coming back next year! Thank you for your prayers and please keep praying!! I love you so much - Na kupenda sana!
P.S. I’m learning a little Swahili from the Dove boys so I’ll share what I’ve learned.
Jambo = hi
Sasa = what’s up
Habari gani = how are you
Mzuri = I’m fine/good
Na kupenda sana = I love you so much
Na mimi na kupenda sana = me too I love you so much
Mungu akubariki sana = God bless you
Asante = Thank you
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