SPECIAL NEEDS AND UGANDA

Hello Everybody!!!  It is hard to believe it's already been three weeks since we got back from Uganda.  There is so much that happens when we are over there that it is hard to know where to start.  I've posted photos on the facebook page, so I hope you'll read about our trip as you look at the photos.  https://www.facebook.com/That-The-WORLD-Will-Know-420502065123464/?modal=admin_todo_tour

The greatest thing for me this trip was taking my special needs daughter.  How she responded in Uganda would determine the future of ministry there for me.  Alyssa is very much a routine person.  Autism doesn't allow for much flexibility, so I knew it would take a lot of prayer and God's grace for her to thrive in Uganda. 

One of the things I struggled with beforehand was, "what if she couldn't handle it?  How would I be involved long-term if she couldn't be part of that, since I'm her guardian?  What would that look like for Kamiigo?"

God had opened the door to Africa for me after 35 years, and I knew it had to work for Alyssa as well.  All I could do was pray and trust that whatever happened it was in God's hands.  As always, He accomplished exceedingly abundantly beyond all I asked in that regard. 

Alyssa has a heart of compassion and the gift of mercy. She can see pain in people and minister without words.  I wondered how her heart would react to so much pain and if her heart could handle it.

It was really amazing when Alyssa saw the children in the village for the first time.  Instead of seeing pain, she saw special needs, like her. She did not see poverty and pain. She saw herself.  So she decided to adopt all children as "her children."  She was up every day ready to go see "my children" as she called them.

Her role became passing out sweets. As I was siting one day watching her pass out sweets, it hit me that the picture I was observing was the same picture I had in my mind as a teenager when my desire was to live in Africa.  Since I had never been there, the only picture I could envision as a teenager was sitting on a stump feeding the children.  And here was Alyssa, sitting in a chair wherever we went, passing out sweets. 

To see Alyssa have such purpose and such joy fulfilling her purpose was more than I could have hoped for.  She was created for Uganda.  She grew in so may ways while we were there.  It was beautiful to watch her, and she asks continually when we are going back.

Like Alyssa, every one of us has a purpose and every one of us has special needs.  Regardless of what our "special needs" are, God has put His seed in us.  We are to water it with our works and He will do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or think.  We will thrive in the purpose He set out for us.

I look forward to the time Alyssa will be able to go again and see "her children."

Thank you for reading this, and I hope you enjoy the photos and stories.  God bless you.