this precious life.: Uganda, Africa

YWAM-Youth With a Mission- {the Soroti location was also know as Amacet, which means ‘Shelter’} was another ministry that we had the huge honor of serving with thanks to Pastor Job. We had been told that they are very strict about who they let come & work there {because many of the children they take care of have HIV, TB, Malaria & other health issues} and you typically have to go through a 2-3 month training before you can. But Pastor Job serves on the Soroti YWAM board and got us permission to go help.

While Eleanna was super excited at this opportunity, I wasn’t so thrilled the first time we went. I mean, I was glad to help in any way I could but my heart wasn’t completely in it. If I have a choice, working with chillens and babies is not typically on the top of my list. I’ve grown up taking care of children and many times I’d rather go do hard labor or clean than pour energy into playing with young ones. But Jesus has really been working on me in that area over the last 6 months, showing me how children are so much more important than physical labor & how energy poured into loving them lasts so much longer than a clean floor.

That first day we went, I was still struggling with all of that a little bit. But Jesus really showed me how MUCH they really needed us to love and coddle them and by the next time we headed out there, I was actually looking forward to it! From there on I lost track of how many times we went over to sit on the front porch and fill our laps with the little ones.

Most days we would take care of the infants & toddlers -feeding & holding them & changing their diapers {we’re pros at changing cloth diapers now! haha}- but sometimes we came and were asked to help with other things. Sorting & organizing toys & closets, doing dishes or squeezing oranges for their daily juice.

As said before, many of the children at the home are suffering from AIDS or TB and are there for treatment. But most of the very young infants {including many preemies} have come because their mother died or is too sick to care for them. They stay for 2 months and then go back to their families or if the family situation isn’t good, Els -the Dutch woman who has given her life to this ministry & keeps Amacet running- tries to find an adoptive home for them.

In just two short weeks, both El & I got quite attached to these little ones- most of whom weighed very little due to AIDS {which used to be called Slims disease before it was discovered} or malnurishment brought on before they came to Amacet. Els would show us the before pictures she takes of the children when they first come and it would just break our hearts!!

We didn't have many opportunities to take pictures since our arms were usually full of babies but we managed to come home with some good ones:)

Raphael!! Such a sweetheart!

Eleanna and Catherine made a special connection during the two weeks. We had been mistakenly told by one of the helpers that she was HIV+ but after getting home, we read on Els's blog that Catherine is negative!!! That is super exciting!! You can read more about Catherine's story HERE

This is Bernard-- he's 3 months old in this picture but he was born 3 months premature and still looks like a tiny newborn. His feet weren't even as long as my thumb!

This is Kennedy. He didn't smile a whole bunch but he had such a big heart. Whenever one of the babies was crying he'd go pat them or hold their hand.

Jabeth. He was the first baby I took care of that first day we went. It was so cool to see how when I had been taking care of a preemie baby with a feeding tube last year {via a ministry I work with in the states}, God had been preparing me to take care of Jabeth!