Uganda – June 22, 2009 (Steve West)

Every Child a Story

Meet Joseph. He is 17 and has been here at Agape Children’s Village since he was 12. I call him “Mr. Winner,” as he lost numerous card games of African Uno to the mzungus (foreigners) the first night we were here, complaining all the time (with good humor) that it was not right that we should win. He’s right. We don’t fully understand the rules of a game which seems to change every time we play it! Joseph is a soft spoken young man, studious in his glasses (which he is fortunate to have). He came to Agape from a life he describes as “very, very bad.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, he told me how his parents died when he was four months old, how his grandmother could not care for him well, unable to pay the fees for him to attend secondary school, how he had no real hope. Because of Compassion International, he was able to come here, a gift of God, he says. Joseph wants to be an astronomer or, failing that, a doctor. That is his goal, his hope. I asked him about goals because of his eloquent and very biblical devotions that he led in our home last night, about “pressing on” and not letting past failures or troubles weigh us down, about God’s plan for each of our lives.

But behind the brown eyes and face of every child here, there is a similar story. There is life before and after, there is the grace of God in this place, a family, a house mother, brothers and sisters, a life of responsibility (they rise at 5:00 for chores) and yet one where their needs have been met, where there seems to be love and consideration for each other, and where there is fun amidst the kinds of responsibilities that few of our kids shoulder.

So you can pray for us as we try to love the kids in our home. I want to get to know Joseph better, but then there’s also Farita, and Edward and Ruth and the motherly and quite responsible Joyce, governing in Mama Christine’s absence. But what about all the children along the dirt roadsides between here and downtown Kampala? The breadth and depth of the need is staggering. I am glad to be here, to be with the few children in front of me, but I sometimes feel small and insignificant in light of the poverty I see.

When I was in Kaihura Faith Kunihura made a comment about an ailing man that has stuck with me. She said she looked at the man she saw the image of God lying in front of her. I hope I can remember that every time I look at one of these children. I hope I see them as individuals, little stories in one epic story God is telling.

Steve West