Wow! To God be the Glory!

Volunteer Julia Acord shares her impressions of the trip to Uganda

The library is done!

It was so exciting to be able to give such a gift to the children in Mbale. There are actually no words that capture the entire experience.

The sea of endless people,

the kids with big smiles on their faces on the side of the heavily traveled dirt roads saying "Muzungu" (white person),

the waves of homes intermingled from just a mud hut or shacks to a brick/concrete home with a wall topped with barb wire or broken glass around it,

2 lane dirt roads that become 4 or 5 lanes in a blink of an eye,

the poverty of the people in the midst of such a beautifully rich land,

the adaptability of the people in the midst of many power sheds (no electricity), and I could go on and on.

The children at the schools so happy to see us, some of them wanting you to sponsor (help) them. It was very obvious the teachers were thrilled with us being there and wanting to know if they could help in any way. The hard thing is seeing all the children that have no parents, and even if they do, not seeing the parent/child interaction. (There are a some exceptions.)

I have two children of my own. I can't even imagine never holding/hugging them, playing with them, really doing anything with them except telling them to go fetch 5-10 gallons of water a mile down the road barefoot, not to mention how my kids would feel on the receiving end of that.

In the midst of all the above, it was awesome to be able to share Christ with them by way of interaction, song, puppet show, playing with them, talking with them as we built the library, etc. Watching their faces as they watched us through the windows as we put the library together.

In contrast from a people who have nothing and still smile to Americans who have so much and are not content, I am so spoiled. The whole experience was quite exhilarating, fun, rewarding, tiring, sad, funny, and most definitely spirit filled.

I know the depth of my experience has just begun to sink in, and I am most grateful for the opportunity.

- Julia