My Hut. {Home Part 2}

Previously, I told you about and showed you my Ugandan home. 

I didn't make that up - I truly live there - but only a portion of the week. Our street programs are in Kamapla (the city) and our boys homes are in Bombo (the village). I am in Kampala four days a week and Bombo for three, which means I get to have two homes in Uganda! 

My home in Kampala is beautiful and I absolutely love it, but the truth is that the lifestyle I live there is not the lifestyle of an average Ugandan. That said, I really enjoy living in Bombo in my cute little hut. No electricity, no toilet, no shower, and bats as roommates - but a lot of simplicity. I think simplicity is beautiful. 

I love the place. I love the people more. 

Showing Love with Pigs

Last Tuesday, I got the privilege of helping with the A Perfect Injustice Pig Project. We delivered three pigs and a mattress to seven family in the Bombo village, after spending the entire day searching for a place to buy pigs and a way to transport them. It may have been the most exhausting day of my life thus far - but totally worth it! To add a little drama to the story  - I fell off a boda (taxi in the form of a dirt-bike) on the way back and thought I broke my hand. No worries. It was only badly bruised. 

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Recently, API started sponsorship for children in the community (previously, only children in our homes were sponsored). It was a blessing to show Jesus to many people in need. Their thankfulness was humbling and their joyfulness inspiring. 

More details were provided in the API blog: 

"A few months ago, God led us to adding a new outreach to our ministry. As we were praising God for the great work He was doing in our boys homes, we couldn’t dismiss the fact that there were many other children in our community that were in the need of our assistance. While these children had a loving family, that family was unable to provide for them education, and many other necessities… so we began community sponsorship! Thank you for the many people who have joined the effort and sponsored these children as well as dedicating your time to pray for them. A handful of these children now attend our homeschool program, and they are improving and excelling at great speeds.

In efforts to help not only the children, but also their families, we created “the pig project.” This week we were able to deliver a mattress and three pigs to each of the seven community-sponsored families.  Yes, the little piglets are adorable, but not offered for pets (just incase you were wondering). Rearing these pigs provides means for these families to become be self-sufficient- an important value here at API.  We pray this project will be successful in improving the lives in our community and we also hope to start a chicken project in the near future. As we provide for our community, we strive to not only provide for their physical and educational needs, but we also desire to teach these families how to provide for themselves and cultivate sustainability.

What a blessing it was to deliver these piglets to so many families we have grown to love! Their expressions quickly became filled with joy and thanksgiving. Yes, A Perfect Injustice provided for a few of their needs – but ultimately it was God using your support to provide through us. We pray that these families not only feel loved by us, but also by our great God who loves them and cares about their every need. We pray that not only are the relationships of these families strengthened, but that each member of these families would form a relationship with Christ!

Deutoronomy 15:11 says, “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’”
We are thankful for the support that allows us to provide for the needy in our land and we pray that you also seek ways to provide for the needy in your land."

We are still in great need of sponsors for not only boys in our home, but community children as well. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or would like more details, email aperfectinjustice4@gmail.com 

I am Overjoyed at a Perfect Picture.

Two years ago, I met a sweet boy named Emma. It only took minutes to decide, he had the best personality of any child I had ever met. He made everyone in his presence laugh until it hurt - he was so full of joy and found pleasure in adding joy to the lives of others. He was also very mature. Evidenced by the fact that he bought a bike with his own money, saved from allowance, and washed it religiously, and he had many animals of which he took great care. He didn’t have these animals just for the sake of having a pet, but for the purpose of making profit. He was smart. Soon after purchasing his own goat, it was discovered that goat was pregnant. Emma then had many goats. (He claims he knew this, and that is why he chose it.) 

I met Emma two years ago in Uganda at one of A Perfect Injustice’s homes. Emma had been rescued from the streets. I remember looking at Emma often and struggling to process how a boy with so much joy, had suffered so much. 

Well, the answer is simple. Jesus rescued Emma. Not only from the streets, but from himself. Emma now serves that Big God who saved Him. 

I have been so excited to see Him again. I had the chance to spend a short time with him this weekend. Today, Emma was resettled with his mother. Though this means he will be in less comfortable conditions, Emma on his own decided, he wanted to go help take care of her. With the many skills he has learned, he knows he can now provide for her and his family. Also, PRAISE GOD, during the time Emma has been in the API homes, his home life has become a safe environment, unlike before. 

Last night at Emma's last family devotion, each of the boys went around and gave Emma some last words. They all encouraged him in many ways, but all of their words pointed to the Gospel. They told him – “don't be of the world”; “Don't forget to read your bible and go to church”; “Don't sin and do bad things.”  “Don't make bad friends, have a good group”; “Remember to pray to God”; “Remember to pray for those still on the streets”; “Obey your mother”; “Tell your mom and neighbors the Gospel” ; “Let people see how you are different now, so they can see Jesus”; “Remember that we will always be your brothers”; “Remember - God changed you.” 

The boys then all gathered around him, and prayed over his life. 

Emma came into the API as an abandoned child. He lived in the API homes where he was taught the ways in which he should go. Today, Emma was sent into the world as a disciple. As a man of God. As a faithful servant who is willing to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. 

Today, I am overjoyed. I can't really explain to you the emotions I feel as I stand in rooms full of fatherless boys who once lived on the streets - now praising their heavenly Father with all that is in them. Boys that not only are faithfully serving God, but are encouraging each other too. 

Today, I am overjoyed as I see the most beautiful and perfect picture of redemption. 

Pray for Emma. Pray that through Emma's life, hundreds more would experience this same redemption. 

(Read more about Emma's amazing story here)

(All these pictures were taken in 2012. Emma is now around sixteen years old)