Sonja and I want to invite you to come with us to Uganda this spring.You should come.
We've been praying about this trip for a while and we've been asking ourselves, how do you bring a group of Americans to Uganda in a way that is economical, wise, and faithful?
We're not totally sure.
But these three convictions guide every trip we take to Uganda:
It's not our orphanage,
they are not our kids,
and this is not a mission trip.
It is easy to slip and say things like, our orphanage. It is too easy.
But here is what we believe: All of the good and beautiful things happening at Raising Up Hope in Uganda, from the very beginning until today, are not ours. They were thought up and carried out by Ugandans who wanted, who needed to care for their own. We have gotten to be a part of that and it has been a blessing for us and hopefully for the staff and kids at RUHU. But we won't ever 'work' at the orphanage. It is not our orphanage, and we are committed to keeping it that way.
They are not our kids. This one is tough. It feels so nice to call them our kids. And sometimes it slips, and maybe it is fine. Maybe that ownership is good...but we try to avoid it. We try to avoid it because words matter, and the children who live under the care of RUHU aren't ours. They just aren't. They are God's, and they are Mama Faith's and Ellen's and Patrick and William's. And yes, we are theirs and they are ours in some profound way that I don't really understand...but to say that they are our kids is not really fair.
And this isn't a mission trip. It never has been. This is a trip to see some dear friends that we love.
We love them, and we must see them. And over the past few years, you have grown to love them too. And so you must see them.
Many of you have been sponsoring one of the children in Uganda for 3 years now. You are paying for their food, and you are sending them to school.
You have had pictures tacked on your fridge and the kids have had your pictures tucked under their foam mattresses.
You have written letters about your family and how the weather is.
And you have received letters from them.
They say,
"My best color is blue.
My best friend is Rachel.
My best subject is English.
I love you so much my dearest mom.
Thank you for the school fees. I miss you so much.
When will you come to Uganda?"
When will you come to Uganda?
You should come with us this spring.
We are aiming for the end of April or the beginning of May, but dates aren't final. So let us know when you could come.
You will not,
will not,
will not regret it.
info@beautifulresponse.org
