More than anything

It's been about three weeks now that I have been back in the U.S. from my trip to Africa. But three weeks spent in the U.S. on my comfortable home turf is not the same as two weeks spent in Africa. Our Midtown team spent the majority of time in community with people from Gulu, Uganda, Nairobi, Kenya, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Prior to our trip, our team thought that the Village of Hope was our sole project, but upon arriving we discovered that was only one of various ministries. In Uganda, we met with the Women of Hope who are suffering from HIV/AIDS; we heard the stories of the Butterfly Club, courageous women who were forced to be wives and soldiers; we played and cared for children at the Home of Love, an orphanage in Gulu; we taught at a deaf school, bridging language barriers. In the largest slum of Kenya, called Kibera, we fed 427 very grateful children a rice lunch; we met a nurse at Mercy Clinic who serves 25-30 children every single day without charge; and we even made friends with giraffes. In Ethiopia, we held infants in orphanages who had been abandoned by their parents; and we threw a birthday party for over 100 children, hopefully conveying the message that they are worthy of celebration. We established new relationships for future groups from Midtown to journey to Africa as well.

More than anything I said or did on this journey, the real impact is in what the individuals of Africa gave to me. Despite only knowing war, despite sickness and death, despite fear and loneliness, the women, men, and children I met had hope. They did not despair. They were the most joyous, open, friendly people I have ever spent time with. Their uninhibited expression of affection was striking in a group of people who based on their traumatic histories could be fearful, distrustful, and closed off. However, they danced and praised God with such energy and force; He is their Deliverer, their Healer, their Lover -- and, I believe, the reason they have the amazing capacity to still love. As much as the people I met are in need of many basic things such as safe water, food, clothes, medical care, and education, they certainly have their priorities straight when it comes to what is most live-giving. People. True genuine, get-into-the-details-of-your-life-because-I-do-care relationships are what's important.

~ Katie