New Conversations in Jinja.

For the last two months, my time here at Abide has been all about creating, writing, and implementing a new program that focuses on advocacy and education. I’ve spent weeks writing and explaining just what we do here in Jinja and how this work with families is truly making a difference in the number of kids in institutional care. We have seen families growing and thriving as mommas create their own versions of sustainable revenues for their families. It’s been incredible getting to see mom’s continue to care for their kids as they build and run their new businesses. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be able to see this work first hand, and then be able to write it up in ways that encourage others to get involved.

The program that I have been working on is called Abide Advocates, and basically, our Abide Advocates are to walk alongside us at Abide Family Center as we spread the message that Children Belong in Families to more and more people. Our Advocates are resourced with new information regarding family preservation and in return they share that info within their own circles of influence.

Webster’s tell us, an advocate is ‘a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy, and this is what we want are Advocates to become. I want them to be so well versed in alternative care that they become our voice in new places across the map. I want them to feel comfortable enough to be willing to tell friends and family why they too believe in family preservation and alternative care solutions.

As an Abide Advocate, they are put through a 4-month Advocate program. This means each week they receive an email from us that includes things like family updates, messages from our leaders, program information, discussions on spectrum of care, Abide tours, and even more details on the ends and outs of Abide Family Center. It is then their task, and our hope, that they share this information with the people they know.

I say it all the time, and I truly mean it. People want to be passionate about something. They want to have a stake in something greater than themselves. People want to make a difference. We just need to give better direction and discernment on how to do ‘aide’ well. Giving out cash, or toys, or sweeties on the side of the road in Uganda or Cambodia or Thailand, is not the way to solve problems. To cause long lasting, world shaking change, means we are going to have to truly begin to scrutinize the way we ‘do aide,’ here and back home in the states. I’m not saying I have the answers, if anything my time here I leaving me with even more questions. My hope though is that our first round of Advocates (who are already engaging in awesome conversations which is awwwwwesome) will feel empowered; that they will know how they speak, what they speak, and why they speak, is spreading information and sparking new conversation. That is where we have to start. We have to open up lines of communication to learn the needs, the hurts, and the culture in the places we wish to reach. 

I know my reach is short, I can’t tell nearly enough people about the things I am seeing, but, if I try to resource people with relevant and interesting information, that reach gets farther. Thanks again for helping me get to this spot. 

Jinja Town.

It has been too long. I know. I’m just, I don’t know. Just so bad at this updating thing. If you know me, you know I am the WORST text-er, the worst call-you-back-er, the worst email-er, the worst at anything that has to do with keeping in touch. I suck. My problem is, when I leave a place and then return, I pick up exactly where I left off with any of the relationships I had. This is fine for me, but not everyone else is like that, and I end up leaving people hanging. For that, I apologize. Anyways, to the update…

I’ve been in Jinja for the last month and have most definitely gotten a lay of the land. Jinja is a town 2ish hours outside of Kampala, right on the Nile. It’s been such an interesting transition from Kampala because the two are just so different. Worlds apart really. It’s impressive how close they are, yet so the pace of life, the traffic, the shops, and the people are so different.

As you probably know, I’ve been interning at Abide Family Center, where their goal is to reduce the number of orphans in Uganda, and they do that by empowering families through things like business classes, emergency housing, and parenting classes. My focus coming in has been in the pastoral/ministry realm, but I’m working on something a bit outside that umbrella, which is not really surprising being in Uganda and all. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been helping to create a program called Abide Advocates that focuses on getting specific people from back home information about orphan prevention and family preservation, with the hope being they will then share this information with people in their own circles of influence. It’s an interesting concept because the focus is not on fundraising or money, it’s truly about building relationship with people back in the states and getting them access to new information regarding orphan prevention.

I think one thing I have valued most about my time here in Jinja is that I am being exposed to vocabulary and concepts that finally put words to what has been going on in my heard. A lot of the time I have felt like there has got to be something more for these families, more for these kids, but I didn’t know how to express what was going through my mind. Now, things like spectrum of care, kinship care, double orphan, foster care, resettlement, and others have been shared with me and have given me a better way to express my feelings on what I see not just here in Uganda, but in the states as well.

I love that I have had such different experiences each time I’ve been in country; it gives me a broader perspective on the things going on. I don’t know if we’ll ever come up with the perfect way to ‘help’ families, or give ‘aide,’ it’s all just so subjective and dependent on learning culture and being immersed. I’m thankful for the chance to see another way of doing things though and I am so thankful to all of you who helped to get me here for this new experience. 

Back in Kampala!

I made it! I am here! I landed in Kampala late on the 2^nd and Eddie picked me up from the airport. I arrived at the Kamanzi’s house, and I cannot explain to you how incredible they have been. They have gone above and beyond welcoming me into their home, not to mention Ive been able to eat the BEST Ugandan food ever because Pauline is the BEST cook ever. She’s just amazing. From morning till night they have cared for me in ways that I can never repay. It just about kills me not being able to help with anything, but wow, what an incredible family. Forever grateful for their kindness and willingness to bring me in. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to return the hospitality, but knowing them, they will forever out do me.

On a completely different note, I wanted to say thank you to all of you, thank you for allowing the Lord to work in such a giant way in my life. I cannot tell you all how thankful I am for the enormous ways people have come alongside me in funding. I am shocked by the intense amount generosity that surrounds my life. Every once in a while I would begin to get nervous about money and funding and then bam, someone would give beyond what I would imagine. From family, to friends, to people in the line at the coffee shop, I was humbled and astounded as the Lord continued to focus my heart. So. I cannot thank you enough, I will never be able to show you enough pictures and I won’t be able to bring home enough Ugandan necklaces, so please, just know, my heart will never be the same. I will work hard and learn tons as I walk out your giving. Thank you for believing in me. You are so loved. 

I Will Not Come Down From This Wall.

A while back someone asked me 'what is my wall,' what is the thing I would stand for, work for, strive for, pray for, and finish until is complete? I knew immediately, at the time, it was the youth ministry I was leading, I would  (will still) cross oceans for any of those kids in a heartbeat, but now in a different moment, I ask myself 'what is my wall? This time its more a 'me' thing, which seems strange, but my wall is to live the next 6 months of my life as authentically as possible, so that God may use my life to point others to Him. More on this later...

In the Book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah is tasked with rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. He has direct instruction to finish this wall, and to not let anyone or anything stop it. While rebuilding this wall, every single effort Nehemiah had was to finish the task the Lord set before him. Every ounce of material, wealth, leadership, and heart went to finishing what he was tasked with. Even when his enemies did all they could to distract him, to pull him from his work, he kept his eyes on his call. Every. Single, Effort. The thing that is even more striking about this story is that Nehemiah didn't just move his own feet, he encouraged others to move with him, he called for those around him to lift and build and fight and trust and just KEEP MOVING. He led in the midst of mocking, of doubt, of literal enemy attack, but he would not get down from his wall. He would not be distracted, he would not be moved. 

As I get ready to take off (11 days mind you), I pray to be like Nehemiah, that I will not 'get down from my wall.' I will not be distracted by fear, or nerves, or money, or whatever else may be put in front of me; I want my convictions and truth to lead me to where God is directing, not by my strength or ideas, but by His.

I think in my brokenness, in my anger, in my hurt, and in my joy, some one may see the heart of Christ in me and that is all I could ask. I hate that the word authentic has become a buzz word in the American church because I think it has been cheapened. Authentic relationships are not just a one and done deal, being authentic is not just throwing out an 'eh, this week could have been better,' comment and then quickly moving on to some other topic. Authenticity requires work and time and heartache and quite frankly its something I would rather not do with more than say, 2 people. Its. So. Much. Work. But this is my wall. This is what I will be fighting for. Staying authentic with those I've left behind here in the states, and seeking to build authentic relationships with those I meet in Uganda, too truly know people and encourage their immeasurable worth. 

I will not get down from this wall, and I encourage you to ask yourself, what is YOUR wall... what are you willing to fight for... what are you willing to speak into... What is your wall?

A Bit About Abide...

I wish there was a way I could sit down with you, a cup of coffee, a couple of free hours, and just talk about Abide and this upcoming opportunity. I would tell you how this organization is doing aide and relief work in Uganda in such a different way, how their passion for acknowledging and fighting for the worth and value of families is incredible, and how their belief in the necessity of kids growing up in their own homes shapes their day to day operations.

 Abide is combating crisis that is not necessarily unique to the families in Jinja. Each day families are forced to make life shaping decisions in how best to serve their families. The question of Work vs. Childcare and Home vs. Orphanages, are questions that are apart of daily living. Things like how do I support and provide for my child when I have no where for them to go while I work? How do I take care of my baby when I am trying to make enough to put food on the table? Are just some of the questions that swirl around as mothers and fathers, aunties and uncles, try to take care of their families as best they can. Abide's main focus is reducing the number of orphans in Uganda and that entails giving options for these families, so that they continue to have the opportunity to both support and care for their kids.

I just can't imagine a position where, because of my economic position, or lack thereof, I am forced to take my child to an orphanage; I have no other option. That's why I believe the work at Abide is so powerful, it's giving the choice back and really the rights back to the parents and guardians. Abide is trying to remove 'force the hand' mentality. In the end, I'm just impressed. I'm impressed with the heart, I'm impressed with the follow through, I'm impressed with the research of the local community, I'm impressed with about a hundred other things...

I think to break it down, my top 5 specific things that impress me most about Abide are...

- Their desire to see the power and decision of where kids are raised given back to the caregivers.
- Their hope and the steps they take towards restoring families and providing opportunity for stability and independence.
- Their mission statement that says poverty should not be the determining factor of if a child is raised in their homes.
 - Their notion that providing new and different opportunities including business classes, sewing workshops,ect, provides better choices for at-risk families.
- They do all this by working with and through local government and leaders.

To say I'm excited about this journey is only the half of it, please considering sponsoring me as I hope to partner with this incredible organization in May!  http://www.gofundme.com/heatherjayne_

Ten Weeks.

WHAT?!?! TEN WEEKS!

Ten weeks until I will be boarding a plane and making my way back to Uganda. These last couple days I've had the chance to sit and talk with a couple people about my trip and as I've sat sipping my latte and dreaming up dreams I realize how hard this is for me. I've said it a few times now, but I truly feel it in my bones, I believe the lead up to this adventure will be as stretching as the 4 months in Uganda itself.

I'm realizing how awkward I am, how uncomfortable I get, and how fidget-y I become when talking about money. I know, if I am supposed to be in Jinja on the 15th of May, the Lord will make a way, He will provide funds, and He will do so with out breaking a sweat. Me on the other... not so much.

I think in this season I'm learning a completely new lesson in money. One where I see not just provision for provisions sake, but provision from the abundance of God. It should be my joy to partner with those who are willing to step out with the Gospel, and my prayer is I will step out in joy. I will be bold. I will ask boldly. I will pray boldly. I will believe boldly.

Maybe that is what this season is all about, even more than a lesson of money, a lesson in believing, asking, and seeking huge things, from our huge God. I always find myself giving caveats, so that I don't have to pray for big things, almost like I don't want to push God too far... I don't want too ask for to much. BUT COME ON, that's just ridiculous! I know this! I need to act like it!

 Why does the Creator of the Universe need me to make excuses? Why does the One who put the Earth into motion need me to ask for 'little-er' things so He does get overwhelmed? He DOESNT! He does not need my excuses, He does not need my small asks. He wants me to come boldly to His throne, too ask with all of me, too believe and pray from the depths of my soul. He does not need my justification.

Oh, Lord, make me Bold.

Acts 4:29 'Enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.' 

Oh, My Soul.