A Season, a Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven. . .
Good afternoon and happy October! Halloween is approaching, the weather has cooled, and the fallen leaves have prepared to welcome the eager trick-or-treaters with bottomless crunching underfoot. In Uganda, the rain has continued to fall, and the crops continue to grow - the corn now head high, and the beans on the stalks nearly ready to be harvested. September and October have been two months of dichotomy. Where there has been beauty, there has been brokenness. Where there has been healing, there has been suffering. Where there has been birth and life, there has been death and sorrow. Where there has been fear, hope has rebirthed, and redemption has prevailed. As the leaves have since fallen off the trees and have let go of what the summer and warmth have held, we too know that to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. . . He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
I wholeheartedly value vulnerability and the experience of holding the dualisms of reality – the beauty coupled with the coldness. So, I will share the polarity of these past two months together, side by side.
Kids! Kids! Kids!
Our months are filled with dancing, playing, running, singing, and swimming with little hands and little feet! Children are continually being added to our bunch, and together we enjoyed the last days of the two-week holiday break between terms by swimming! We travelled with 18 children, 2 mamas, 1 baby, Auntie Nicole, and Uncle Acram. Throughout September and October, our Sunday school class has grown as we have taught on the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. It is pure joy to teach the simple yet glorious truths of the Gospel: that the Holy Spirit is God with us, and that when we seek and ask God to produce in us the good fruits of His Spirit, He gives us the power to be more like His son - more loving, more patient, more kind. It is not by our own will or effort, but by His abounding grace and mercy!
Death & Healing
In October, our community mourned. A young girl of 15, with a mental disparity, was impregnated by her uncle. In April, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy – a miracle of God, as she walked from her home to the Father to the Fatherless medical clinic where she immediately went into labor. In October, we mourned the loss of her baby and grieved the reality of the situation. Her mental state was compromised, and the baby suffocated under blankets intended for protection. In the same breath, I have sat with others as they have testified of God's grace in their lives. I have heard from people who were diagnosed with HIV and given months left to live and, without any medicine or treatment, returned to the hospital to be told there is no trace of HIV in their blood. I sat with others as they testified of healing from a crippling mental illness – locked away in a house for months on end, their family ashamed, and the community rumoring they have gone mad. They have since experienced freedom at the hands of Christ – they endeavored to reach out to me and others in the community, to build a web of support and friendships, and engage in the church and develop their faith.
Ebola Outbreak
On 25th of September, a 24-year-old boy died having tested positive for Ebola in our neighboring district of Mubende. News sources give varying information, but it assumed that there are around 63 confirmed cases and 29 deaths. On October 15th, President Musevini declared a lockdown of two districts including Kassanda, the district where Father to the Fatherless is located, to prevent the spread of Ebola. He announced a 21-day lockdown including a curfew, restricted travel, and the closure of all places of worship.
Hope Reconciled
It has been Acram and I's greatest desire to travel stateside for the holidays to be with loved ones. The process began early this year and in the last weeks we have held an overwhelming sense of peace amidst the chaos and unknown. We knew and prayed that God's will would be done. Acram's visa application was denied, and my visa is soon to expire without an immediate option to renew or an alternative. As we held the surprise and disappointment of the circumstances, we knew what we had prayed. Our hope is well kept as we are continually reconciled to the will of our Father. One door has remained opened, so we know it is part of a grander plan: I am traveling stateside for the month of November to visit all my beloved friends and family, prepare for ministry in Uganda for 2023, and eat some yummy thanksgiving turkey! Tentatively, I will be in the states from November 9th to December 6th. I would be overjoyed to see you all and share with you what this last year has held, and what is anticipated for 2023.
Abaana Photos
Lastly, we are preparing for ministry with Abaana Photos for this coming year. We want to welcome you to partner with us in ministry as we take this step to continue serving the children of Uganda in a new and unique capacity. We are seeking prayer, accountability, and financial partners. First, we recognize that all our endeavors are only possible by God and through prayer – we would ask you pray with and for us for wisdom, guidance, and understanding in all this next year will hold. Second, we are seeking people to walk alongside us in guidance and counsel! We value your opinion, wisdom, and advice. Please consider if you would have the capacity to meet with us as an accountability partner. And third, we need financial partners to continue to allow us to do in ministry in Uganda. We understand the decision to contribute monetarily to any ministry takes thought and prayer. Please consider if you, your family, or your church would have any capacity to partner with us. We are humbled and so grateful for the consideration to join alongside us as we take this next step, in whatever capacity you feel led, and believe that God will use you to accomplish His will in the lives and hearts of His children here in Uganda. For more information on financially partnering with Abaana Photos, please contact us directly or visit our donation page. For more information on Abaana Photos, please visit our website: www.abaanaphotos.org. If you would like to receive more Abaana Photos specific updates, please subscribe on our about page. Click below to visit my blog Loving the Little Children of the World and stay tuned for a 24-month recap of my time in Uganda so far! With gratitude & grace, Maama Colo
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