Karen and I wanted to thank all of you generous people out there who have helped us help the poor of Uganda. To be honest, I feel a little sad for you that you couldn’t be here to help them directly. It is so amazing to actually be the hands that get to reach down to help and love these precious children and their moms. When you get to see their faces smiling back at you after a good deed was done…forget those Mastercard commercials, these smiles are what are priceless. To be able to help a poor lady who sleeps on a porch, find her some land, build her a house, give her and her children bedding, perhaps a loan for a business and then take her children into a safe place for school all because someone out there wants to love and help, is truly amazing. To be here and witness this first hand has been unbelievable. 

 

I’ve said this before; the bible has become so alive in this place for us. Growing up, I always understood the words of Jesus “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” a little differently than I understand them now. As a child, I was told to do unto others, don’t cheat, don’t lie and quit pulling your sister’s hair. That verse meant shape up and toe the line. After living here, I see that verse backwards now. Those words of Jesus are a command to love. It doesn’t say “do not do to others” it says “do to others”. Jesus once again is telling us to love. The thought runs through my head almost every day as I’m in the slums trying to make a difference. If something happened to me, I would want someone to help my wife and children. I would want them to be looked after in their distress. That verse is not about you misbehaving or missing the mark, it is a direct order from the King to love.

Running a school in Uganda, we were forced to pick a school motto to register the school with the government.  I can't think of a better motto than Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.  If we are able to teach the children and their moms this simple lesson we will truly have accomplisged something lasting.  Thanks again for being the muslce behind the love.  I have put together a little video of the people we are helping at our school and with housing so you could witness their smiles as we get to.  Click the youtube link to watch the video.