In 2004 my husband Bob and I came to Uganda for the first time. We came as missionaries --- our plan ---- stay for 3 years and return to the US and resume our lives where we left off. But God's plans were quite different and His plans are always the best.
We came as church planters and most of our ministry was out in the villages around Tororo Uganda. We knew nothing about the people, the culture or the many languages. Yes we were pretty green! But we did know without a shadow of doubt that God called us here. Our constant prayer was "give us love for the people of Uganda". And God did that and in return, we received love back.
Our three years passed very quickly and by then we were hooked --- we signed up for another three years. Uganda has a way of getting inside you and not letting go. We loved it and we wanted to stay.
If I said that those three years were without challenges, frustrations and even times of wanting to quit and return to the US, I would be lying. But none of that caused us to quit and leave this place God had called us to.
In December 2009 we went to Florida for Christmas to spend time with our children and grandchildren. We were due to return to Uganda the first week in February. On January 26 2010 we went out to dinner with friends. It was a nice evening and I remember Bob telling our friends that he believed Uganda was good for his health, he felt better than he had in years. We went home, at 10:00 pm. Bob said he was tired so we went to bed. About an hour later my whole world changed. I thought he was snoring so I nudged him to get him to turn over, but he didn't respond. After a few tries I realized something was terribly wrong and I called to my daughter who was sleeping in another room. She called 911 and they came, took him to the hospital and tried to revive him. They pronounced my sweet husband dead on January 27, 2010 at 2:00 am.
People asked me --- are you going back to Uganda and my answer was no. There was no way I could imagine returning without Bob. In my mind and in my heart at that time, I lost everything, my husband, my best friend, our ministry and my purpose in life. All gone with him.
Again, God's plans are not our plans, His ways are not our ways --- He had a plan for me and all I needed to do was pray, listen and be willing to obey Him. A few months after Bob's death, in my quiet time I prayed a prayer --- it was a promise and I meant it then and it is still my promise today. I prayed: Lord, I will go Wherever You want me to go, Whenever You want me to go, to do Whatever You want me to do, However long You want me to. And so began the story God had already written of my life.
In May 2012, I returned to Uganda without my precious husband but with the full assurance that this is where I belong for as long as God wants me here.
My work in Tororo at this time includes teaching Bible study to the women, youth and the children at our school as well as leading youth choir and the drama ministry. I will be sharing stories from all these ministries so please check our my blog weekly.
Below are a few photos of this past weeks ministry with the women and school children.
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