Uganda

We are here in Uganda and safe! We have been here for the last two weeks and are plugging into different ministries. We went on a few home visits last week and worked with a ministry called Women at Risk that works with prostitutes. This week we are working with Orphans Know More and going to different houses that each care for orphans. Yesterday we visited a home that had about 15 orphans living there. God is really opening my eyes to the orphan crisis here and through that also showing me his faithfulness to His children. I would love to write more but I have no time! Hopefully I will have a chance to update sometime soon. Thank you for all of your prayers and support.

There is something about Mary.

We arrived here in Jinja, Uganda about 2 weeks ago and God is faithfully keeping us safe and guiding us in ministry here. In the short time we have been here, we have heard many different stories and all have touched my heart in a different way, but I want to share with you one particular story of a lady named Carol. In a near by village, there is a lady, Mary, who runs a ministry for women who have been trapped in prostitution as a way to support themselves and their family. Last friday, we went to visit Mary and work with her in the morning. She is currently discipling about 8 different women who she befriended at night clubs. Her ministry is called Women at Risk and she takes the women through a 12 week program of sharing the gospel with them, supporting them, and working with them to find a new way to support themselves. While we were there, Mary was teaching the women about forgiveness and she asked the ladies to make a list of women they have not been able to forgive. When the women came back, one of them, Carol, had written God's name on the list. I would like to share with you her story.

Carol grew up in Northern Uganda and when she was young, the rebels came and killed both of her parents. Carol and her sister went to hide in the bushes, but as the rebels were about to leave, her younger sister began to cry. The rebels heard her and went searching in the bushes for the tears. When they found her younger sister, they cut her in half, right in front of Carol's eyes. Carol was able to escape and she found a person to take her here, to Jinja, in southern Uganda. When she got here, she was given to a man who began to sexually abuse her and from that, Carol gave birth to two children. The man promised to take care of Carol and the children but he got her involved in prostitution then left her and never came back. Carol does not understand how a loving God could let such terrible things happen to such a young child. I know the reality is that we live in a fallen world and that evil does exist, but even with that knowledge, I do not know the answer to Carol's question and in no way can I relate to the trauma that she has been through. Despite that though, hearing Carol's story and her questions still taught me a few things. One, everyone has a story. Before we went to work with Mary, I was questioning how these women could ever get involved in something like prostitution. After hearing Mary's story though, I was reminded that judging and making assumptions about people comes all too easily. Carol has changed her life and given her life to following Jesus despite all the things that stand against her and speak lies that she is not loved-- poverty, abuse, and horrible memories that I can't imagine. Only a God who loves His children has the power to give courage and strength to change a persons life like that. Despite my opinions of prostitution, it was a way for Carol to provide for her family and now, she has left it behind to trust that God is bigger than this world and has a way to bless her and her children in a poverty stricken country. She may still be working out her past with God and learning to see how He loved her through the hardship, but her faith is real and alive. Just as any relationship has challenges, I believe her relationship with God is allowed to have challenges too. I don't think He needs us to protect His self-esteem by saying we are okay when it is not true. God has brought her to Mary and allowed our team to be part of her walk with God as well and I trust that He will continue to walk this struggle of forgiveness out with her. From all of this, I am now challenged to hear the story of every person we meet to gain understanding and see the wonders God is working out in other's lives.

Hola Mozambique

Yesterday we returned from a two-week adventure in Mozambique. We stayed with a church in a small community called Machava right outside of Maputo. Part of our time was spent painting rooms and digging a long ditch at a property down the street. The property is being prepared for a new YWAM base with an orphanage and the ditch will deliver water to the house! It was a lot of physical labor and tiring in the heat, but it was an enjoyable time talking with our group and also building a relationship with Alice and her son, Mahle, who are living on the property now. Mahle is almost 3 years old and full of energy. His desire was to help us, but when a 3 year old grabs a paint brush or hoe, there is no way to know where the adventure will take him! In addition to enjoying helping though, Mahle could play chase for hours so we would take turns chasing him. By the end of the time, he would come to me, whisper “Vamos a correr” which means, let’s run, and run off just giggling. One day, while I was chasing him, he kept falling and telling me he was tired, but when I asked if he wanted to sit down, he would enthusiastically say no and keep on running!

The other part of our ministry in Mozambique was helping with Youth For Christ’s work in an even smaller community than Machava. We went with Lauren to a church for a feeding program. When we drove into the community children ran from every direction to catch a ride with us in the bucky (that is what they call trucks here). Lauren said that on some days they pile 30-40 children in the back. They all are just thrilled to get a short ride, even if it is only 5 minutes. The church is a simple concrete building—no windows or doors or any furniture. About 100 children came and were fed a bowl of porridge. After each child was given a bowl, they put the pot the porridge was served from in the middle and the children sprinted to it to get as much of the scraps as they could. One of the most difficult parts of the feeding program though, was seeing young children, 4 or 5, carrying their younger siblings, 1 or 2, on their back. I watched one girl who shared a bowl of porridge with her sister. She would take one spoonful for herself, give her younger sister 3, and repeat it until the bowl was gone. Another girl fed her younger brother then turned and he jumped right on her back and I never saw him get off the entire time we were with them. Although it was difficult to see, John pointed out to me how much you can see that they care for one another. No one is alone and I think they demonstrate the brotherly love Jesus calls us to have with each other in a beautiful way.

After spending the morning with the children, we split into groups and went with a translator to visit homes. (They speak Portuguese and Shangan) Brittany and I visited four different houses and each was unique, yet similar in some ways. Each house was very formal in our visits. When we walked in, they greeted us and immediately found chairs for us to sit down in. Even when we visited a one-room house made out of straw and had a tin roof, the woman living there found water containers for us to sit on. Many of the houses we visited were broken families, with either no father or a father that worked very far away and only came home once in a while to give money. I would like to share with you the story of one particular house we visited. Living there was a mother and daughter. When we were first speaking to her, she wasn’t opening up much about her life. I asked her what growing up in the community was like and she said she enjoyed it very much. However, I really felt God was telling me to ask her what dreams or hopes she had for her young daughter. When I asked her the question, she opened up to us and her story broke my heart. Her husband works in a mine and comes home every other week. When he is home, he abuses drugs, which makes him a “mad man,” as the mother described to us, and he beats her and their young daughter. Her desire is to leave her husband for her daughter’s safety, but a fear is controlling her. Her husband’s uncle is involved in witchcraft and the husband has threatened to put a curse on their daughter if she leaves. We asked if her family supports her and she said they are too scared to say anything. We spoke with the mother and encouraged her that God is stronger and more powerful than any witchcraft. We talked with her about not allowing fear to control, but putting trust in Christ. Before we left, we prayed with her and she was very grateful, explaining that she was feeling hopeless with the situation. Not having grown up in a culture where witchcraft has any real influence, it is hard for me to understand how it can have such control over a person’s life. Hearing this woman speak though, broke my heart and gave me a taste of the power of lies being spoken to the communities. I know that God is more powerful and I know His heart is for them to experience the fullness of His love. So my prayer is that these families choose to turn to God and trust Him.  I pray that God will work in her husband’s heart and change his life in a radical way, so their family may be united and their marriage could reflect God’s love for us.

While we were in Mozambique, we also had some time to explore. The community we were staying in was very small with bumpy dirt roads. A short walk from our house was a market where you could buy anything from a live chicken to fruits and vegetables or a deck of cards. We didn’t have any car to drive us around, so when we wanted to get into the city we had to find a chappa, which is a taxibus. Luckily we rented chappas to use because I do not know how I would have breathed in a normal chappa. The chappas are 15 passenger vans, but on average about 25 people squeeze into one! In one chappa all you could see was a bunch of butts pressed up against the windows. Other times, when we did not have to rent out a chappa, we were fortunate enough to make friends who drove us in their bucky, but that was never a dull experience either. As a group, we are now professionals at pushing a truck to get it started. We went to the beach one day and swam in the Indian Ocean and also were able to eat Mozambique prawns, which were delicious. Overall, the trip was wonderful! We are now staying here in South Africa for 2 days and on Wednesday morning we will leave to fly to Uganda for 4 ½ weeks. 

The view of Maputo from the other side of the harbor

These two photos are from the feeding program. Notice the young girls carrying children.

I was attacked by misquitos! 25 bites on one of those elbows and one turned out to actually be ringworm. I am using a cream now and it should be gone soon.  

A frequent view--pushing the bucky to get it started. 

Yebo!

So what’s new?

1) Well, the biggest news is that we leave on MONDAY for Mozambique! On Monday we will pile into a taxi and drive to Maputo, Mozambique to begin our outreach phase. Yesterday we began practicing skits that we will use during our children’s programs or if we are asked to run a church service. I am really excited, but it still feels a bit surreal, especially that it is coming so soon. We are still in great need of prayer for our trip—1) many of us are still need financial support. (If you are able to help, look at my last post for how to support us!) 2) after 3 months of class and community outreach, we are in need of physical and spiritual rest 3) that our plans will be God’s plans. As we prayed, we got the Parable of the Prodigal Son. We are focusing on the son’s return to the father and the father’s joy and celebration in that return! Please pray that we continue to be sensitive to God’s guidance in our planning. 4) safety in traveling! Mozambique is about 2 hours away and Uganda will be about a 5 hour plane ride, but continual prayer for our safety even while traveling in the country.

2) Last week a group of 10 came from New Hope church in Wiley, Texas to join us on the base. Their pastor, Keith, led our class last week in learning how to make change stick! There were four key things—a) God must initiate the change, b) we have to be obedient to follow, c) live out the change within a community and d) our attitudes must be ready and willing to change. The teaching really challenged me to consider whether God or my own will initiates changes in my life. God made us all creative individuals so I think sometimes I become a little creative in how I want to change, but when I look back I can see it’s only been the changes from God’s heart that really stick!

3) This past weekend the New Hope team organized a soccer tournament for the children in the two communities we work in—Mbonsweni and Kobokweni. We started the morning off with the church service then went to a large soccer field where they played soccer and netball and the younger kids had their face painted and played with hula-hoops! It was a beautiful day and great to see the two communities come together.

4) Facebook’s new change has made it impossible to use at the property. The internet connection is so slow that we can look at things but we can’t write messages or make comments or do anything! Well, as we say here, t.i.a.—this is Africa.

5) Monique and I have switched out the jazzercise video for Billy’s Celebrity Tae Bo. At first, I just felt hopeless from my lack of coordination, but with a little bit of practice, I think Monique and I are on our way to being Tae Bo masters. It’s still not the same release as running, but it keeps me moving! Plus, I have to be ready to give my brother some competition in running after he is done with his marathon. Psh! Who ever thought he would get to run one before me? (just kidding bro, you know I love you!)

6) We have our visas for Uganda! We took a group trip to Pretoria last Monday. When we were there I had to get a photo taken for my visa, but I wasn’t allowed to smile. The photo looks like my mug shot. I don’t really understand why you can’t smile for it. Does Uganda only want people who look like they are out to kill to come to their country?

7) Sickness has plagued the base. I think almost every single one of us has been sick at least once these last two-weeks either with a cold or things coming out one end or the other in an unhealthy way.  I was so excited because I thought, by the grace of God, that I had escaped it, but Sunday night it hit me. I am doing better now, but there are still a few sick so prayers for our health, especially before outreach, are appreciated.

8) I learned my lesson about sunscreen. After the community stay, my hair was in braids from the girls and my whole entire head burned. Then last week, I noticed my head was incredibly itchy only to find that my entire scalp was peeling! I’m thanking God that He has blessed me with a friend like Monique who spent a good hour peeling my head for me so I didn’t need to walk around all flaky. My lesson learned—even if I have to smear sunscreen all in my hair like shampoo, I will do it to avoid the pain of a burned head. 

2 weeks to go!

During the past three months I have spent in South Africa, God has given me opportunities to spend time with orphaned and vulnerable children here. Each week we help with feeding programs in two communities and have the chance to bless them with our presence and God’s love for them. It can be challenging to see a 14-year-old girl caring for her younger sibling on her back, children with holes in their clothes, and knowing some have no food for dinner that night. Despite the difficulties though, I am continually encouraged by God’s faithfulness to these children. He has broken the hearts of women like Elizabeth and Mama V and created within them a desire to serve His children. He continually provides for them and the joy and thankfulness they have for it is moving. 

On April 6^th, I will be leaving for Mozambique with the 6 other DTS students and 2 staff members. We will spend two weeks there, then fly to Uganda to continue ministry for 4½ weeks. I am excited for the opportunities God has for our group and ready to embrace every chance I am given to share His love for the children! We will be continuing to focus on the HIV/AIDS pandemic by working in orphanages, with orphan care projects, feeding schemes, and ministering to street children. Our desire is to bring hope to these children by showing them the love of Jesus in practical and spiritual ways.

More than anything, with two weeks left before we leave for outreach, our group would greatly appreciate your prayers. We are praying for the arrival of Eunice and Sandile’s passports, for favor on Monday in Petoria while getting visas for Uganda, spiritual and physical rest, and guidance in planning. Also, continual prayer for our group’s safety is wonderful way to support our group. 

In addition to those prayers, our group is need of prayer for finances. This outreach costs each of us $2,000 and covers housing, food, and transportation. However, as a group we have been working on preparations for programs and have many different ideas of ways we want to bless the children. We would love to bring crafts, face paint, and treats for the children, but as always, there is a cost for the things we desire. Would you prayerfully consider supporting my outreach financially? Your contribution would not only be investing in my life, but also in the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable children of Mozambique and Uganda.

To make a donation online, visit www.TenThousandHomes.org. Under GIFT INFORMATION put Laura Hokanson DTS outreach.

To make a donation by check, make your check payable to Ten Thousand Homes and send to P.O. Box 118 Wylie, TX 75098. Please include a separate note with my name and DTS outreach on it.

Both ways are tax deductible. 

Below are two pictures from this past week. The one on top is one from the community stay. On the left is my host sister, Zanele, and on the right is Sanezo. The bottom picture is of the feeding program in Mbonsweni this last Saturday. There were 153 children fed this past weekend. 

Commuity Stay.

Two weekends ago, Monique and I volunteered for the day shift at the AIDS hospice in the community. There were 10 beds and 10 patients—a full house to say the least! On the weekend they have two nurses on staff and, with a full hospice, they were on their feet all day. Our desire while being at the hospice was just to bless the patients and the staff, so we began our day by cleaning the bathrooms, moping the floor, and cleaning the kitchen. We helped to make breakfast for the patients and cleaned up afterwards and then did the same thing at lunch. At lunch, one of the nurses asked me to feed a patient. He was sleeping so I was hesitant to wake him, but she assured me that he needed to eat. I woke him up and gave him one spoonful of pop. I swear the pop sat in his mouth for two minutes before he had the strength to swallow the food. I could see the pain and the sweat on his body. He was so stick thin that I wanted so badly for him to eat and get some meat on his bones, but, at the same time, seeing how difficult it was for him made me want to take it out of his mouth and let him fall back asleep! The patients were sleeping most of the time we were there, but there was about a half hour window when the women in the hospice were awake so Monique and I gave them hand massages. It was about 1:30 when the nurse was finished giving medicine, bathing patients, and with her other duties. Since we arrived at 7 in the morning, I had not seen her sit down once so I tried to help her relax the only way I could think—by giving her a back massage. After visiting the hospice I see there is room for prayer for the patients and also prayer for a continual renewal of energy and strength for the staff!

Then this past Wednesday, our whole DTS went to Kobokweni to spend three nights living in the community. We were each given a different family to live with for the time. I lived with a family of 3 children—Zanele (11), Julia (16), and Sanezo (4). Their mother and grandmother lived with them along with their cousin who is 22. Their father works in Johannesburg and comes to visit at the end of every month. Their house was modest and, in comparison to others within the community, it was one of the nicer houses. However, the poverty was still very evident. They had two bedrooms with one bed each and then a third bed that was in the kitchen. There was a very tiny washroom with a sink, but no running water. In the corner of the kitchen were a few buckets that they filled with water that they used for their daily needs like washing dishes, cooking, and bathing.

While I was there, I shared life with them. We spent the days with Elizabeth helping her run the feeding program, but we spent the night and morning with our families. I ate dinner with them, which was a huge pile of pop and some sort of stew to go with it each night. On Thursday night, the Gogo (grandmother in SiSwati) insisted that I cook dinner. Praise the Lord that the oldest daughter, Julia was there to help me. I always thought that I could cook, but without the simple things I take for granted like a carrot peeler, sharp knives, or a stove I was lost! It really taught me an appreciation not only for the things I am blessed with but also for their ability to take simple things and creatively utilize them to the fullest!

At night I shared a bed with Zanele and at the end of our bed was a bucket in case I needed to use the bathroom. The first night I woke up freezing in the middle because Zanele was completely wrapped in the only blanket we had on the bed. I didn’t sleep very well, but in the morning Zanele woke up and threw the blanket on me. She sweetly came and tucked the blanket under my shoulders and feet and told me to go back to sleep. It was a simple act, but she showed me so much love in doing it! The African culture is a very early rising culture and since I was sleeping in the bed in the kitchen, I was woken by about 5:30 every morning. I managed to roll over a few times but never for too long. Without a second passing of me sitting up in the morning, Sanezo would run towards my bed and jump to sit next to me and talk. He didn’t speak any English, only SiSwati but that didn’t make a difference to him. He just talked and talked and occasionally paused to see if I had any reaction. I would smile and then he would just go on talking! Although I couldn’t understand Sanezo, the oldest daughter, Julia, spoke English very well. It helped to have someone I could talk with while living in a house and she also gifted me by teaching me a bit of SiSwati. She laughed a bit at my accent, but she was a very kind and patient teacher. Then every morning they filled a bucket with hot water for me to use to take a bucket bath and then served bread, butter, and tea for breakfast. They were a very welcoming family and I am grateful for the opportunity to have formed relationships with them and experience a new way of life!

African joy.

One of the things I have really been challenged to think about here is to discover what is my source of joy. While I am at home or at school, I was joyful when I had the chance to take a nap in between classes, go for a run in the park, spend time with my friends free of stress, sit down to have dinner with my family, or treat myself to some delicious frozen yogurt. If I didn't have the chance to do these things though, I will admit, I was not always the happiest girl in the world. If I didn't have the time, or the way, to spoil myself with what I enjoy, then it was a "bad"day. So where does my source of joy come from? Other people? Yes. Delicious treats? Yes. Running? Yes. But I realize now that those can't be my source of joy because none of them have a satisfaction that lasts. They can be things I ENjoy, but they aren't going to be where I find true, everlasting joy. John 15:9-11 says "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you...I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." I think I trust God with a lot in my life, but after thinking about my source of joy, I realize I struggle with trusting Him with my emotions. Living in a culture that has so many things that can bring me temporary joy has made it easier to rely on things rather than God. It's a work in process and there will probably be many times that I allow circumstances to determine my joy, but ultimately I know God is always there to strengthen me in His joy. 

This video is from www.mochaclub.org and it explains a lot of what I have been learning in the communities perfectly. Despite these children not having shoes or clothes without any holes or meals everyday, they have laughter full of happiness that is so inspiring.