Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:32:21 -0600From: "Kelsey Young"
Jambo everyone! Mukama Yebizibwe- (Praise God) I am alive after our 17 hour flight from Ethiopia to DC! As I am waiting for my next flight home to Denver, I thought I would fill you in on a few of the adventures!(I wrote this for you all two days ago...enjoy)The KeyThe mist rises up from the rapids of the Nile. The birds sing to the tune of dawn. The fish surface onto the lapping water against the rocks. As I swing in this amazingly comfortable hammock overlooking the Nile, I am surrounded by untouched beauty and I'm reminded of God's intention for earth: Peace. Looking back on our week in the village of Mawanga, I can honestly say that I experienced unconditional love in its purest form. One of the team members asked me, "What gives you the most joy?" I said, "This. Bringing people together in unity under Jesus Christ gives me the most joy." Friends- you have to understand. This was no ordinary team! Two of the "older" :) women recently had strokes. One younger guy, who I didn't even know until this trip, used to be a major drug dealer and believe it or not...be ridiculously racists against blacks. One team member is 14 and she had never left the country. 19 of 20 team members were all were from my home church- which was the best blessing. I had never experienced such unity. Such love. Bringing my home church and my African family/church together was an overwhelming time for me! What did we do? Nothing. the Lord did it all and, well, we just helped. Come walk with me as we peek into a typical day...ready?The rooster seemed to still be on daylight savings time because this year he shouted his beak off around 5am instead of 6. If that didn't wake me up, Brian's singing would! I stepped outside and ran into Tom (team member) grabbing the water basins and cycling down to the water hole with Pastor Paul's kids. Dolly and Laura were already washing dishes with Mama and a young man from the village, Eddy, is out sweeping the dirt! :)Three women from the team would be ready to go visit a widower with 7 children and a new church meeting under a mango tree. Four men from the team would finish breakfast and head down to work on the new ROWAN office building (Rural Orphans and Widows AIDS network). Two nurses from the team would already be at the clinic working hard at building relationships with the Ugandan nurses and assisting a young boy who was bitten by a Black Mamba Snake. His heart had literally stopped!! If the clinic wasn't there with the anti-venom, the boy would have died. The young team members would be out in the front yard playing with the orphans, two of which have full blown AIDS. Laura was in her room preparing her lesson on the Creation story, and when Diane (older lady) wasn't falling out of the latrine in the middle of the night- she was painting Pastor Paul's house green! Dave was on top of the clinic hoisting up a 7 foot Solar panel! And TA-DA! On the third day, there was LIGHT!!!! ANYWHERE you looked, a team member was there building relationships with the people. Where was I??? Everywhere. You'd find me visiting with the teenage girls I have known for years- one in particular just had a baby last week because her teacher decided to take advantage of her...You'd find me walking with Pastor Paul discussing Big plans for ROWAN (a ministry Pastor Paul and I began together). You'd find me in Martha and Ida's small bedroom dancing and laughing about their "girl secrets." You'd find me gardening with the team and the widows, assisting bible studies with the widows and most of all: standing back in awe. I would stand in front of a fully functioning clinic with light- and praise God. i would look at a new office Building for the Orphans and Widows in the community- and praise God. I would see each team member hand-in-hand with the people- and praise God. I would walk down the path and hear, "Kelsey, Jambo!" from the corn fields- and praise God. I would be jumping and dancing at Jane's traditional African wedding in the Church- and praise God.Well if you are STILL reading this, this is the part of the story that blew me away. Earlier this year I was seeking after the Lord one night and asked Him, "WHAT is my role in this world? What is my purpose?" ..............I shut up and listened...........and immediately I heard the Lord speak..."You are a key." I had No clue what that meant. Not until this trip. As I was saying goodbye to Beatrice, a local pastor's wife that I have known for years, she said, "Kelsey. Thank you for loving us. You are the key. God used you to bring these visitors." Her words hit me like a brick. Next day at church, Pastor Paul gets up and tells the Entire congregation: "Today, in 2008, Kelsey has yet received another name. She is: Kelsey Young Namugombe Key. She is the key..." The team had NO clue why I broke down in tears. I blamed it on my cold. :) In reality, it was a moment where I received yet another glimpse of how God wants to use me in this life. Bringing people together brings me joy. And I can see that it brings the Lord joy to use me as a key to unite His people....and that is all I know thus far. But that is enough. :) From the nurses monthly salary, to oxen and plows for the widow's garden, to literacy programs, to university scholarships for orphans- the needs are overwhelming. I fly home with the memories of much laughter, smiles, joy- but also testimonies of daily hardships and challenges.For those of you who have walked with me in Mawanga for the last 6 years- the village greets you!! They know I am supported by you all and I felt your prayers and love this week. thank you.ROWAN will soon become it's own non-profit and we are working on finding medical partners in the states to sustain the clinic. There is much work to do- and plenty of room for more people to get involved. If you want to know more about my trip- or more about these ministries- email or call! I would LOVE to tell you more. :) I will post pictures on my blog this week and you can see for yourself how much fun we had :)I'm off to Denver. Can't wait to hear from you all, and for now, I'll be back in the states until my next adventure! love you all,KelsProverbs 16:9 "The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
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