Monday, David and Abby spoke in a Home to a small group of people about their journey God has led them on this far, and what God is doing through them in Uganda. Abby told me before she began, "sorry, I know you have heard all this many times before," but somehow every word that came from her mouth seemed new, as if I had never heard it before.
I chocked back tears the entire time as God very loudly spoke to my heart! Here are a few things He showed me through Abby!
1. Abby first began by saying that she went to Africa when she was 13, and she hated it! It made me laugh as I too understand the comical ways of the Lord. He calls us to the places we least expect. Am I going to be o.k. with that when He calls me?
2. Abby said she began to pray every day in her high school years that God would reveal Himself to her, that He would lead her in the way He wanted her to go. Everyday. God began to make himself clear.... She was going to Africa!
In this time of stress and confusion about what I will do when I graduate, how often do I pray about it. It should be daily, and it isn't! Worrying doesn't help... prayer does!
3. A year or so later she found herself sitting in a church service where the Pastor was speaking on obeying God. He explained there were different phases. First, we think we feel God tugging at our heart, and leading us in the way He wants us to go. Secondly, we, through prayers and reflection can often feel certainty in this calling. Thirdly, there are too opinions. We either act on that calling or we reach a phase of disobedience ... because when God says go... you go!
I don't know exactly what God is calling me too, but when He does, I want to be ready to go! I don't want to sit back and listen... entering a phase of disobedience. Am I ready to act on my calling when God speaks?
4. Abby went to Uganda to reach out to street children, and had no intention of opening boys homes. In fact, she did not want to. Through a series of events, she rented some rooms that she was going to allow street boys to gather and sleep in at night. A place where they could lock a door and protect themselves from harm, especially sexual abuse. A week before these rooms would be hers she was surprised with the new knowledge that by law she would have to provide them each a bed, food, and a caregiver. What she thought she was doing was opening a shelter. What she did open was a boys home. Since that day (long story short) Abby's organization has 22 acres of land, two boys homes, each housing 14 boys, a street program in the slums, and they now are in the process of opening a discipleship home for order boys to move into, building a bakery for them to work at, and have hopes of building more homes. She said, "I think God had to surprise me like that for me to obey Him. As much as I would like to think I would have started a home if He told me to, I don't know if I would have!"
Surprises happen often in life. Usually, I don't like them. Change isn't my forte! But, what if God intentionally springs things on us without warning so that we will obey Him. Also, when God does (because he probably will at some point) call me to something I don't necessarily want to do, am I going to obey?
I could literally write a book about Abby. She has a amazing story. A story that has touched my life in immeasurable ways! Her obedience to the Lord has convicted me and taught me. When I think about the hundreds of boys lives who wouldn't have been touched if Abby did not listen to the voice of the Lord, I see the great importance of obedience! I pray that I learn to have a heart like hers. A heart willing to serve... wherever that may be!
"Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations!" -Romans 1:5
Learn more about Abby from her blog http://
You can also read about my Uganda experience by clicking the "Africa" or "journals" label on the right.
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| Abby is on the far left. These are the boys in her boys home, each who have been extremely blessed by her! |
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