God is good………………all the time!

The following blog is a guest blog by Ruth Hamm. Ruth is one of the the 'Canadian Ladies', that raised money for Mama Florence's new birthing center and then traveled to see the beginning of construction. She and Holly and Andrea did so much more and we are eternally greatful to them. Please enjoy her blog.

In the pit of our humanness, I think we all struggle with this from time to time. Psalm 84:11 says, The Lord is our protector and glorious king, blessing us with kindness and honor. He does not refuse any good thing to those who do what is right. In my life I certainly have gone through times when I wondered, “really??” Over time I have learned that the real problem is my idea of what “good things” are. God sees anything that brings me into a closer relationship with him, that challenges my thinking, that grows me, that brings me into obedience as “good things” and they may not always bring me comfort , make me feel warm fuzzies or provide earthly goods. For me, my travel to Uganda was a huge lesson in obedience from day 1 of planning. I was challenged repeatedly that fully surrendering all outcomes was what was expected of me, and my only option, if I was going to be obedient to Gods leading in my life. I travelled to Uganda with 2 other women to participate in several projects. I was made aware of Olwazzi’s work in Kemengo through one of the other women and we began fundraising for Mama Florence’s Birthing Center. We were able to raise the full funds for all the projects we were participating in on an extremely short timeline and saw God come through when at times we were unsure how it would all come together.

Arriving in Kemengo just a few short weeks after having learned that this village even existed was surreal. Being a mother of six children, clearly I have a big heart for children. I was unprepared for how my heart would explode with the love, compassion, pleasure and beauty of the hundred of little faces. We brought cases of soap to the village and handed bars out to the children. The children were organized into 3 lines and each of us women took a line. Despite the language barrier, I felt that I was able to connect on some level with the children. I breathed a silent prayer over each child and whispered “Jesus loves you” to every child I handed a bar of soap to. I pray that someday each and every one of them knows in a personal way who this Jesus is.

The mothers of the village left an indelible mark on my heart also. Their pain-staking hard work, love and commitment to their families under certainly less than ideal circumstances by our standards is beyond commendable. Their hunger to learn a new skill or collect some tiny grains of new ideas in an attempt to provide for their families is remarkable. These women faithfully gathered outside of Mama Florences home every day we visited and we felt blessed to be able to provide them with a sewing machine to help develop another skill that will translate into longer term sustainability for their families also. These women have a huge will and the spirit to provide for their families inside of them. All they need is confidence, a little assistance and Jesus.

Mama Florence………….Oh, Mama Florence! What to say about her…………. Anyone who has met this dynamic and charismatic woman knows just how hard it is to really convey the spirit of who she is. She has a joy and presence that is an encouragement to those around her. Her love and passion for what she does is evident in her every step. It would have been impossible for us to not be excited about the Birthing Center Project as we experienced her laughter, squeals of excitement, bursts of dancing and squeezes of gratitude. What a joy and blessing for us to see the leveling of the old and beginning of the new. The final product photos we have received since we left have pleased us beyond words! Thank-you so very much to Tanya for connecting us to this awesome project and to Godfrey for all the hard work you put into co-ordinating the successful completion of the Birthing Center. As I immerse myself back into my work here at home and reflect on my learnings, I find myself wondering at times, “how in the world does a passion, a calling, a dream of mine since I was seven, become a walk of obedience?” The answer comes to me as, “when God chooses to use it to shape, mold and impact me just as much or more then the people I went to help”. I would challenge each one of you to take a step of Faith and go to Kemengo! God has good things for you there!