Today was a major success!! We started the day by having breakfast together and packing our lunches. Shortly after, we piled into the van and drove to a small village called Ninzi. It was there that we were led along a tree-covered path to a small area where a hut stood. We were enthusiastically greeted by the locals and church staff. The Master Cares generously gifting two new houses to two elderly church members, George and Rose. These two siblings have faithfully served and loved the community and church for years. For the next couple of days, we will get to assist with this construction project!
Before we started working, there was a welcome and worship service. It was so incredible!! The native language, Lagandan, is so beautiful, especially when sung in praises to the Lord. Soon after, we got straight to work and had lots of laughs as we tried to figure out how to build a house. After lunch and an hour more of construction, we split into groups for door-to-door evangelism throughout the village. I went with Matthew, Suzette, and Anna, along with our amazing interpreter, Sarah. We had the opportunity to pray over and encourage several people!! Please keep Tedi and Jimmy’s family in your prayers, as well as Mateo, as they continue to grow in their faith!!
One thing we sometimes forget as believers is that people are always watching how we live. The way we treat others can either draw someone closer to Christ or push them further away. During our door-to-door evangelism today, some of our team, along with their interpreter Jessie, knocked on the door of a woman who invited them in after a moment of hesitation. She was kind, but clearly a bit skeptical. As they sat together on the mats in her small front room, Mrs. Holly began asking about her life and listening to her story.
The woman shared that she had never wanted to follow Christ because of how she believed the church had treated her brother and sister in the past. But something changed today. The brother and sister she was talking about were George and Rose, the two we had come to serve by building new homes for.
When she saw our team and local pastors all working together to care for them, her heart softened toward God. She said the bitterness she had carried began to fade, and right there she prayed to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. As she finished praying, her niece, who had been quietly listening nearby, spoke up and said, “I want to receive Him too.”
Today was a powerful reminder that when we simply choose to love and serve others, God often works in ways we never expect. Two lives were changed today, and it all began with an act of compassion.
Before we left Ninzi for the day, our group stopped at one final house. It was here that we met Esther and her daughter, Princess. I felt a connection with Esther as we talked with her and heard parts of her story. So much of what she said resonated with me on a deeply personal level. I got to share parts of my story, and she said that the conversation we had with her left her feeling encouraged. Her story and her prayer request will live with me, and I will continue to pray for her and her family.
Something that leaves me absolutely in awe is the overwhelming hospitality of the Ugandan people. At every house we visited, they brought out chairs and mats for us to sit on in the shade. It was a stark contrast in comparison to the culture back home. At home, we keep our doors locked and pray that the stranger ringing our doorbell goes away. These people value community and hospitality more than anyone I’ve ever seen. It has truly changed my view of hospitality to strangers and has encouraged me in so many ways.
Well, that’s all for today!! Tune back in for tomorrow’s updates 😉
