But God....

I honestly don't even know where to begin with this update, as the last few weeks have been sort of a blur and have held so many emotions. I want to update everyone as best as I can, so forgive me if it becomes jumbled and heavy somewhere along the way. 

Just 4 days after my last update the president of Uganda began a partial lockdown of the country, due to "rising COVID cases". This lockdown began on June 7th at 8am with school and church closures for 42 days, gathering restrictions of no more than 20 people, district border crossing restrictions, and curfew changes. The first week of this lockdown seemed fine. I was able to meet about 20 boys at the local Rugby field to have bible study and play games, a group of 10 of us walked to a village about 3 miles outside of the city looking for rooms to rent, we were able to give about 80 street kids take away bags of cooked rice and beans, and I had some new friends from the states stay with me for a few days, which was so good for my soul. Really it seemed like the only thing I couldn't do was to finish the Following Jesus class we had just started the week prior, because it was a church gathering, more than 20 people, and we had to cross police barricades to get to the location. Life still seemed to move in a fairly normal pace. On Sunday, June 13, I had a crazy high fever for 2 days with no other symptoms. I tested for Malaria, which was negative, Praise God! (I feel like it's inevitable that I'll get it at some point because of the amount of time I'm outside and on the lake) After 2 days of rest and Tylenol/Motrin around the clock, I was perfectly fine. I never did have any other symptoms, so who knows what it was. On Friday, June 18, the president of Uganda spoke again and increased all of the restrictions he had previously put into effect and restarted the 42 day time frame that he had initially given. On top of the things he had already shut down, he added that there be no public or private transport period (no cars, bodas, taxis, or anything but foot traffic), Bodas and taxis could only transport goods or medical patients, private vehicles could be used for essential workers or medical patients only. Things got eerily quiet around here. On Monday, June 21, Police and military began coming to Jinja to shut down shops that didn't sell food, and by Wednesday, June 23, police and military were in full force around town, beating or shooting at anyone who was even walking, not allowing anyone to come into the city, and shutting down shops and businesses that even went against what the president had listed in his lockdown restrictions. All along the president has said people can walk, just no other transport, but these police in Jinja decided otherwise and their manners of enforcing such rules were brutal. It went from nothing major to major abuse and corruption overnight. As of today, June 24, I've had 9 boys come to me with wounds from being beaten by the police, as they were trying to come to me for malaria testing or medicine, just since the beginning of this week. It's so very sad, and I know there are so many more suffering right now. Livelihoods have been drastically changed overnight, and this country still hasn't even recovered from the 8 month lockdown last year. Many people here literally work to put food on the table day by day. Now that schools are out again too, all of the kids are home and there's more mouths to feed. These beautiful people need your prayers. The lockdown will kill more people than any virus ever would. Without jobs, people can't buy food, people can't go to the hospital if they need to (it's pay first then get treatment, here), people can't cross from villages into the city where the resources are if they need to. The devastation and destruction are rampant right now, and it breaks my heart. I have 8 boys who are positive for Malaria right now, or have just finished treatment. I have 4 boys that I've been doing daily wound care on, and now 8 more who need it due to the beatings they sustained this week. God, please protect my boys and blind the eyes of those who are looking for them. 

.....BUT GOD.....

Now let me change the tone a little bit and tell you some amazing ways that God continues to work during this season of unrest......As emotionally draining as each day has been, God continues to blow me away with his goodness and grace each and every day. I think if there was ever a day that it was nothing but discouragement I’d really struggle. I used to always find the negative in a day (half empty kind of perspective). God has really taught me over the last 2 years to find the half full approach. Now I see why, more than ever. Without the vision to see that, I have no doubt I’d be struggling here right now. Thank you Lord for preparing my heart, mind, and soul for all of these years, for such a time as this!

-In the first week of the initial lockdown, I was able to go with 10 of my boys (all whom have been very consistent in coming to bible study and church, checking in with me routinely, and earning my trust, while proving to me they want to change and be off the street) to a small village outside of town. (It's still within walking distance, about 2.5-3 miles) and I've got my steps in going to do pop in visits!) With the support of 2 wonderful families, I was able to get 5 rooms for 6 months (2 boys/room), 10 mattresses and sheets, basins, jerry cans, toothbrush/paste, and soap for each room. I was also able to provide each room with their choice of Luganda or Mzungu (English) bible. I made a contract with these boys and the landlords that we will have sponsorship for the rooms for up to 1 year, 3 months at a time, unless I find out they're doing drugs, lying, stealing, or doing something they shouldn't be doing. I keep in close communication with each of the landlords, the boys still have to check in with me even though churches are closed, and if one of the boys messes up, that room will go to another boy. The joy on these boys faces was priceless and the humble thanksgiving was beautiful. They each tell me how good they're sleeping now, how rested they feel, and they tell me of ways they're learning more about the bible together since they are able to have one to read and discuss at home. Praise GOD!

-Also within the first week of lockdown I had some new friends come to stay with me, from the US. One of the pastors at my home church had friends here when the lockdown started and they needed to have a transition place to stay for a couple of days. Little did they know their presence was much needed for my tired soul, at that time. I'm so thankful for the new friends and prayer warriors I've met and I can't wait until they come back to visit. It was nice to have company and the boys were so happy to meet new friends. While they were here, we were able to cook rice and beans for about 80 street kids and pack take away bags for them, since we couldn't have gatherings at the church. It went fairly smooth, all things considered. Praise God for new friends and provision for my boys.

-We were still able to do bible study that first week, at the Rugby field. After a wonderful study and discussion in Psalms, we were able to share a meal, and have so much fun. Those next few hours were filled with so much laughter I cried, games, silliness, and sweet intentional time together. By the time we left the field and were walking home, 4 of the boys had gathered flowers from plants on the side of the road and put them in my hair telling me they loved me and they were thankful for time with me......my mama heart melted right then and there. Praise God for the love you've given them.

-At the end of the first week, while we could still walk freely, myself and 3 boys took a field trip to the small village where I got rooms for some of the boys. They were all so happy to show me how they had their rooms set up and some of them even wanted to introduce me to their neighbors. They were all so happy to tell everyone that the Mzungu was with them! Let's just say, not many Mzungus frequent some of these villages. When I got to one of the houses, the boys invited me inside to sit and rest, then they presented me with a pineapple that they had purchased for me. First, they have been intentional with finding out things about me, like that Ugandan pineapple is my favorite, and the fact that these boys went out of their way to find small jobs, to get enough money together for a pineapple, was so beautiful and humbling. I cried, happy tears of course, because God is so so good! He's working in these boys in mighty ways, and I'm truly blessed to be a part of their lives. They continue to demonstrated softening hearts, compassion, and love, all of which they said they've never experienced. It's not because I'm here with them, it's because God is here and they're seeing him in a whole new light now. Praise God for his grace and mercy.

-Earlier this week I got news that one of my boys was back from Kampala, where he had went for a temporary job opportunity, and was very sick. (Side note: Joel, the boy who helps me the most, had a dream 2 days prior that Moses was going to be coming back soon and would be very sick). Myself, Joel, and another boy, gathered some supplies and set off on a 3 mile journey to where Moses had stopped to stay. On the way there we ran into another of my boys who ended up walking with us. When we reached Moses we prayed for him and I was able to do some testing and give him medicine to treat his sickness. Thank you God for your provision and the medical wisdom you've given me. After we got him taken care of, the boy who's house he was staying at decided he wanted to have a meal for us to share. He went to the local market, bought my favorite Ugandan soda (again, they listen to what I like and don't like) and a loaf of bread. We sat on the ground in his room, all 5 of us, broke bread together, had bible study, spent time talking, and listened to worship music. We had sweet special time together. Thank you Lord for your children.

-The day after that sweet journey, is when things got really bad here. I knew quickly what God was asking me to do and as I reached out for prayers to many of my friends, God also stirred in them to help with blessing these boys. Today I was able to provide 48 boys with food bags which included 5kg Posho, 5kg beans, 5kg rice, as well as money for charcoal and ingredients to cook with. These food bags should sustain each boy for about 2 weeks so they don't have to be moving around searching for food. I will be packing at least 30 more bags to give out tomorrow, and more as God continues to provide. Thank you Jesus for your provisions and love for these sweet boys of mine.

.....Now for some fun facts.....

-Almost everywhere I go I have a street kid with me, or I run into one. Where there's 1, there's at least 5. Before I know it I have 1 to the front, 1 behind, and 1 on each side, with another one usually hanging back a little more. 

-When people see the little white girl in the middle of the street kids, they panic. They start telling the boys to get away from me, they ask me if I'm ok. And when I tell them these are my sons and I love them, they can't believe it. 

-I have my trusted 10 who watch my back. They won't let anyone charge me Mzungu prices if they're with me, they won't let anyone take advantage of me, and they sure won't let anyone get too close to me. If I say no to something they enforce that rule and they make sure the rules are followed by all of the boys.

-One of my boys will be president of this organization one day. He's continuing to prove to me over and over that he's ready to be something else. He has passed so many tests, he's been patient, and he continuously comes to me asking for scripture and to talk about what I've had him read. He's patient, he's kind, he's loving, and he's done with being on the street, where he's been since he was 6. I see God moving in mighty ways with Joel, and I can't wait to see how he continues to grow. Praise God for His work in these boys.

-The boys who know me so well now tell me they love me all the time. This is huge because it's something that many of them have voiced they didn't know even what love was until a couple of months ago. When they tell me they love me, even after I've said no to something, my mama heart melts. They trust me, that's huge! Praise you Jesus for allowing your love to shine through me to these boys so that they can now feel love on earth. 

*I took one of the boys, Joel, with me to Central Market last week, in the car. He was terrified at first because he didn't think a Mzungu could drive here in Uganda-let's just say it's an adventure. After about 5 minutes he was all good and ready to drive around seeing all the sights. We had such a good time just running errands and spending time together, getting to know one another! Thank you Lord for intentional quality time together.

-----Prayer Requests----

*Prayers for this country as the lockdown is currently through July 30th

*Prayers for my boys-their safety, health, continued growth in the word and trust in the Lord during this season

*Prayers for wisdom for me-who to help, when to help, how to help

*Prayers for safety and health for myself and my sweet Ugandan family; Thomas, Mary, and their 2 kids Stella and Reuben

*Prayers for us as we are trying to rent a place for the boys to come during the day to be off the street, to get rest, bathe, wash clothes, and just be at peace. 

God bless you my friends! We love you and we thank you for the many prayers!

Tara and the boys