.:love:.

Today, I spent Easter in Africa....and it was spectacular.

I woke up to a gorgeous morning and took a boda to church, were we had the most beautiful Easter service. It is amazing to worship with so many different people, all of us with our different stories, different struggles, different joys.....yet, all in awe of, and there to glorify, One beautiful God. I cried as I looked over at one of our street boys sitting next to me, with his eyes closed, tears streaming down his cheeks, singing at the top of his lungs his love to Jesus, head swaying to the right and then the left in adoration. What a gorgeous example of God’s hope. He took a boy...starving, addicted to drugs as his only source of comfort and warmth, left hopeless...and He brought him out of the pit, gave Him life, and now causes Joseph’s heart to beat with love for His Savior. Literally.....his Savior. I am in awe at the work God is doing here, His love so extravagant.

Later in the day, we went out to Ssenge and had such a perfect afternoon at the boys home for street kids. Imagine the most simple, gorgeous place, far away from the hustle and bustle of city chaos, where you’re stripped of things like running water and electricity, but surrounded by all beauty. It’s like a haven. I honestly feel closer to God being out there. And I learn so much about God’s heart from these boys. One of them told me the Easter story today, and when I asked him why he thought Jesus died, he responded in his adorable little accent, “People. He just loves people!” It was like a cup of cold water remembering how simple it really is. He just loves people. We spent the afternoon playing soccer, trampolined, sang and danced, did lots of running, and then lots more dancing, enjoying the beauty of Jesus all around us. After that, I took a motorcycle back through the jungle, caught a taxi stuffed full of people (many on top of each others’ laps), took another motorcycle home where I met up with my friend Polly, and then took yet another motorcycle into town to go grocery shopping....because we were about to make an amazing Easter feast for all of our friends.

We arrived at Garden City, the Western shopping center where all the UN workers, NGO’s, and tourists go (it’s a bit of culture shock after living in Kampala), and as we were walking in, I saw this ragamuffin bunch of kids, with their torn clothes and broken shoes, and wondered to myself what they were doing in this shopping center? Polly and I continued into the store, as we set about finding the perfect ingredients for the perfect Easter feast. As we were walking through the isles the group of kids (two little girls and two little boys, under about the age of 9) walked through our aisle, and they looked at me and smiled, giggled, and asked how I was. When I responded back in their language, their eyes lit up and they started following us through the store.

Now, let me just say that, at this point, I realized that they were beggar kids and had come here to get anything they could from anyone that would give them something. They started following us around, holding onto our arms like we were their mamas, and asked curious questions about the ingredients for our feast like what ‘pasta’ was. They followed us, and kept on following us. It could have been annoying because we were in a hurry to get back, and people tell you “Don’t give them anything because it will just reinforce their begging and add to the problem!”...which, to be honest, is probably true.....but it’s EASTER. The day that we celebrate ultimate love and sacrifice and how that changed our lives. And, to be honest, I think that every kid should get spoiled with some yummy biscuits and Cadbury chocolate on Easter. I didn’t care if people said it added to the problem, I wanted those kids to feel so spoiled. While the kids were walking with us, I couldn’t help but wonder if they just wanted to feel like they belonged to someone. So I asked them if they wanted to be my babies for the day, and they shook their heads yes, and we continued shopping, smiling as we got curious looks from people passing.

It’s so simple. I didn’t do anything extravagant or anything that even required much, but those little ones were grinning ear to ear, feeling loved and feeling that they existed. And I remembered how simple it actually is to make a dent in people’s hearts, as His love melts away indifference and penetrates hopelessness. It’s amazing how much a little Cadbury and some puttzing through grocery store isles can make the forgotten feel loved.

We came home and made our amazing Easter feast, with a few bumps in the road (we ran of our gas in the stove while we were cooking, and then ran out of water when we were cleaning it all up...a daily occurrence). But it was just amazing to eat, be with dear friends, eat some more, and celebrate Love. I was reminded today to not be overwhelmed by the enormous need here, but to stop for the one....being Jesus’ Cadbury chocolate covered hands and feet.

“Give the King your justice...May He judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice! Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills in righteousness! May He defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy...In His days may the righteous flourish and peace abound till the moon be no more.”

:: Psalm 72