Dear friends
and family,
I pray the year
has started off
well for each
one. After the
first of the
year, I jumped
right back into
teaching piano
and nannying. I
currently have
eleven piano
students. I also
take care of two
little boys on
Mondays and
Tuesdays, and
then watch their
cousins on
Thursdays and
Fridays. I’m
also still doing
a little bit of
housecleaning in
my spare time.
God has really
blessed me with
these different
opportunities to
serve which
makes my “work”
truly enjoyable!
I first must
apologize for
seeming to “drop
off the face of
the earth” and
not sending any
kind of update
my last week in
Uganda or the
weeks following
my return to the
states.
My last week in
Uganda was
incredibly
difficult as I
went through the
“leaving”
process. I had
grown so
attached to the
children I was
working with,
the Ugandan
women, and also
the other
amazing
volunteers with
whom I’d made
friends.
As I went
through the last
few weeks, I
couldn’t stop
thinking that
the “lasts”
would be coming
faster than I
expected. The
last dinner…
followed by the
last time
helping the kids
into jammies and
bed. The last
story read…. the
last goodnight.
Bittersweetness
flooded the
days. On my last
night in Uganda,
I helped put the
babies to bed
and walked
around, kissing
each beautiful
child, tears ran
down my cheeks.
I had learned
the individual
personalities
and so greatly
adored each and
every child. I
held “my” boy,
Weiss, on the
porch as the sun
set. At that
very moment, I
knew that,
though my heart
was breaking,
the fact that
I’d given all I
had to give; it
had been so
worth it. I’d
rather live with
the scars of
true love than
to close off and
be free of pain.
It took every
ounce of
strength to put
Weiss in his bed
and walk away.
I came home so
worn out and
empty and,
struggled to see
the purpose in
my being home. I
had heard people
refer to their
“losing
identity” after
such an
experience and I
finally
understood what
they meant. I
was so “needed”
there in Uganda.
Isn’t that what
we all want in
life: to be
needed? What I
didn’t see then
was that my
identity can
only be found in
Christ. While
it’s easy to get
wrapped up in
“His” work, it’s
imperative to
see that He is
the only thing
to get wrapped
up in. When my
gaze slips off
of Him, I will
most definitely
crash.
Throughout the
summer, God
stretched me
through many
different
events,
continuing to
pull me closer
to Him. I
learned so much
about His grace
and mercy, His
perfect timing,
and
unconditional
love for me. I
learned the
importance of
making Him my
All…we say that
so easily, but
do we really
live it?
He’s blessed me
so much with an
incredible
family and these
incredible
opportunities.
I so appreciate
your love,
concern, and
prayers. I would
ask that you
continue to keep
me in your
prayers as I’ve
been given the
opportunity to
RETURN to Uganda
with a few of
the friends I
made while there
last year! I
will be leaving
on February
25th…just less
than 5 weeks
from now!
I desire to be
used to the
fullest and so
am open to more
than just the
baby cottage.
While I WILL be
going back
there, I would
also like to
help at a home
opened by a
former Amani
volunteer for
school aged
children. Her
rapidly growing
ministry is to
offer meals,
showers, bible
studies, and
homework help,
among other
things to the
Ugandan kids.
Please pray that
God will use me
to the fullest
and that I would
be able to set
aside any
preconceived
ideas or
feelings and
simply serve!
Your prayers and
support carried
me through the
last trip and I
covet the same
for this trip!
Thank you and
may the Lord
bless you!
In Christ alone,
Kathryn