International Missions :: Uganda

For the last 6 months I served as a missionary at Good Shepherd's Fold Children and Babies Home in Jinja, Uganda. I worked as a nurse at GSF, where approximately 85 kids call home. While I was titled nurse, every missionary there played many roles! I might be teaching sunday school class one hour, testing for malaria the next, join in toddler play time before dinner, and then help one of our teenagers decide what to do next in life!No two days were ever the same! Working as a nurse opened up the door to work and talk with so many people. Each week GSF held a feeding program and mercy ministry to widows and malnourished or at risk children. Due to money, transport, or work our small clinic at GSF became their only medical care. It was a great opportunity to minister to these women! Nursing also opened up deep relationships with many of the children living at GSF. Not only would I care for and comfort them while they were sick, I was able to talk about Jesus with each of them. I miss all their little faces so much!Many people ask me "Why?" My first reaction is, "Well, because Jesus said go!" When I really started to follow Christ in my life I saw the great need and command to spread His love and His truth to everyone- next door and across the world! In life I have been blessed by a great family, an amazing education, and I very useful and fulfilling job as a nurse! I knew God had blessed me with these things so I could use them to glorify His name. I knew God was specifically calling me to use my nursing skills as a way to open the door to spreading the gospel in a foreign country. I prayed heavily about this decision, and God opened every door along the way to GSF. I went serve, but also to challenge my understanding of Christianity. I wanted to see Christ outside of the American view, outside of my own comfortable culture. I wanted more Christ! 

"When I really started to follow Christ in my life I saw the great need and command to spread His love and His truth to everyone- next door and across the world!"

 God opened my eyes to many things while in Uganda. Things about His holiness, His strength, and many things about his desire for His people. The Ugandan's dependency on Christ is outstanding! I quickly saw that my dependency grew when comforts, security, and my culture were stripped away. I realized that often I first think "oh I can do this!", rather than turn to Christ. Turning to Christ always provided more comfort, peace, and hope than any fix I would have had anyways! I pray deeply that my trust in Christ above all else would not fade as my comforts and resources return!God also opened my eyes up to the power of living intentionally in conversations, friendships, activities, and all of life. It was easy there to structure my day around what would help me show the love of Jesus most, or how can I bring up a conversation about truths someone needs to hear. God had to take me out of my daily routine in America to show me how much more he had planned for my life! With the goal of glorifying Christ in every daily action, its amazing the joy He fills you with and the opportunities to share Christ that fall into place.My realization of the hope that Christ provides was also renewed during my time in Uganda. I saw unbelievable sickness, evil, hurting, and overall despair everywhere I turned while there. However, the people who had found Christ had such joy and hope despite everything else! Christ didn't take the daily struggles away, didn't take the hardship away, but their minds weren't set on the trouble of this world. Their minds were set on their glory in Christ! My joy and hope in the newness that Christ  brings was renewed!I am excited to encourage others in their desires to have a impact for Christ in the world. My hope is that the people of Paradox would have a heart and desire to reach the nations for Jesus, particularly those who have no access to the gospel now. I desire that our pastors and partners would be prepared to send and care for those going. International missions is much greater than just the people working on the field. It requires a team of fellow Christ followers to help send and help encourage along the way! I am excited for the hearts that Christ is stirring at this very time!On Sunday, we will talk about Church Planting and International Missions. As well, we will be taking up a special offering (something we have never done) to support these missionary efforts.Julie is a member of the Fairmount City Group. Find other blogs about her trip here and here.Please be in prayer about how much you should give, over and above your normal giving, toward these sending efforts. Also, please be in prayer about whether or not God might be sending you: Either as a church planter or part of a church planting team; as a missionary in Fort Worth to international students and refugees; or as an international missionary to an unreached people group or particular nation.Find the first four posts of the “Sent” blog series here.