Wednesday, March 14, 2012

"Here I am, SEND ME!"- Summer in Uganda

It all started when I walked into my condo after returning home from my first-ever mission trip to Uganda and Ethiopia in the summer of 2010. My bags dropped from my arms and I immediately began sobbing. At first I thought it was culture shock, but then realized it was so much more than that; I had left my heart in Africa.

I knew that I had to go back and immediately signed up to return to Uganda next summer for another mission trip. I also knew that I wanted to commit to staying longer than just two weeks. I pondered it for awhile, prayed for a bit….but then I backed out due to fear and laziness. It was so easy to get comfortable again in my routine, my job, my way of living…so I settled for just the two week trip.

Let me share with you a little more about myself. I have been working with children and adolescents in a residential treatment facility for the past 4 ½ years and studying for my masters in social work. I love walking with others in the midst of their pain; probably because I was so lucky to have others do that for me years ago. So I have a heart that has fallen in love with Uganda and a heart that is passionate about meeting others in their hurt and knowing that true healing alone comes from God.

Fast forward with me now as I return home from my second trip to Uganda this past summer of 2011. Once again I could feel God tugging on my heart. I could hear Him whispering and leading. Through a series of God-ordained web searches and emails, He led me to Bethany Haley and eXile International. Bethany co-founded eXile International which provides hope and healing through expressive arts for former child soldiers. If Kony 2012 just popped in your head then you are thinking correctly. Bethany saw the need and decided to do something about it. She created the HOPE initiative to work with local leaders on the ground in Uganda and Congo to provide trauma training, hope-focused healing and expressive arts and to see these children become soldiers for peace rather than soldiers for war.

God has sown my two passions into one and I will be working with eXile this summer in Lira, Uganda and Children of Peace! I will be walking alongside Jane, a local leader who has invested so much in the lives of these innocent, abused and abducted children. I will be assisting with implementing some peace clubs in the schools, trauma workshops and leading some teams that will be coming from the states.

(photo by eXile International)

My arms ache to hold the boy who had to chop his mothers head off, or the girl who was raped thousands of times in the bush. My heart longs to wipe the tears of a young man who watched his family get murdered and pray with the boy who still wakes every night with night terrors. These children are REAL, their stories are REAL.

(Photo by eXile International)

I am not anyone special. I am not an expert. But I know how to love and trust in God’s healing love above all. If you have been watching and reading about Kony 2012 and have felt lost as to how to help you can assist me and eXile! I will be fundraising to cover my support while I am in Uganda for 3 months. YOU can be a part of this journey with me and help change the lives of these former child soldiers; renew their life, heart and mind.

Please visit Exile's website to learn more about their life-changing efforts under "My favorite links" top right of blog.