I. AM. HOME.
Norah and her Smile |
February
17th I boarded a plane headed to Uganda with a girl from Tuscaloosa named Monica
who was about to board a plane for the first time in her life, and her first
plane ride would be 16 hours, not an easy ride for even someone who has made the
trip more than once, but through all the layovers, airplane food, finding our
gates and taking our seats she was a trooper and we both made it the next day
on February 18th at 10:20 pm. Not even 8 minutes off the plane, while standing in
line for our Visas I get a phone call from Alex, one of my best
friends here in Uganda who is also our full-time driver. At that moment, I started to smile knowing that as soon
as I got my Visa, and found my bags I would be in a van on my way to House 1, one of my three homes for the next 132 days. After grabbing my bags and getting hugs from Alex, Mato
(House 1 Dad), and greetings from Laura, Kelly Anne, and Andee we were in that
van headed to House 1. After getting settled in my bed, being the only one in
the boys side of the quarters we stay in I climbed in bed settled in and slept
like a baby until 4:30am, the moment I woke up, walked out the door, up the
stairs to the main house, through the front door, and there, rubbing there
eyes, trying to wake up, getting dressed and sitting down to eat there
breakfast of warm milk, ginuts and bread were 24 kids that I had missed more
than anything else in the world. After hugs from all of them I sat on the
couch, buried my head in my hands and just began to thank my God for another
chance to come to this place. To actually be on the couch, in that home, and
listening to the Lugandan coming from there mouths warmed my heart beyond any
gift or trip, and at that moment I realized that I was truly home. That I don’t
have to leave for another 4 months and during that time I could see these kids
every single day and my heart overflow with every hug, every smile and every
calling of “Uncle Will”.
Sassy Vanessa |
Before
I came on this trip I spent some time back in Brandon, MS to see my wonderful
girlfriend Anja, all my friends at MC, spent the 40 days leading up to the trip at
the Sozo Children main office helping in getting different things done and
during all of the weeks before my trip, I got to see Cody
Donald, Baker Carroll in Mississippi and as he was passing through Birmingham, on his way to Mississippi
I got to see Jared Willis as well. All 3 are huge influences on my life and
great friends of mine who I wouldn’t trade for anything in my life. All of them
have spent great amounts of time in the mission field, out of the country.
Jared and Cody have both spent 6 months each in Dubai sharing the gospel with
workers in the city, and Baker has spent much time in Paris preaching the word
to people on the street and college students within the city. All 3 have a huge
heart for the Lord and a desire to see His name spread throughout the nations.
As I am writing this Baker and Cody are leaving the country again for a few
weeks to spread the gospel even more. All 3 of them told me things I will
always remember. One of the nights I spent in Brandon I got the chance to have
a slumber party (by that I mean I slept on his couch) with Cody and that night
before going to bed I asked him what to expect when being gone for more than a
month within the mission field and he answer was, “except to never be the same”.
He continued to tell me that I will be changed in a dramatic way getting to see
things that some people will never get the chance to see and experience things
that some will never get to experience. Along with that while Jared was staying
at my home in Birmingham he told me something I think about everyday and it was
simple…. “Baxter, go hard for the Gospel everyday, and don’t hold anything
back.” Lastly, right before I got on my flight to Amsterdam, I got a phone call
from Baker and one of the last things He told me was to “live out your faith in
everyway possible and to never get discouraged, no matter what happens,” and
before we hung up he took the time to pray for me, like he has more than once,
as one last prayer of sending me off.
Psalms
23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I
shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastured. He leads me beside
still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for
his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, then comfort
me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my
head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
While
I am hear my desire is to never fear what might happen, or what is happening
and to fully rely on the power and faithfulness of God through out it all and
to fully, like Jared said, “to not hold anything back”. Psalms 91 has been a
chapter I have more than once while I have been here and in that chapter God
promises to protect me from whatever the evil one sends at me as long as during
the time I am hear I continue to make the Lord my “dwelling place”. Verse 7 “A
thousand my fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not
come near you.” It also says that He will cover me with His pinions and shield me with His
buckler. His final promise in chapter
91 is in verse 15 which says “When he calls one me, I will answer him; I will
be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” That is the Word of God, and something I hold on to everyday that I am hear. While I am here God will test me and Satan and his demons will try to discourage me and get in my way, but with the faithfulness of God and the belief in His promises, I know, without a shadow of a doubt He will protect me and will be there for me and with me every step of the way whether that step is an easy one or not, He will never leave my side, and if I fall during these 4 months or within the course of my life He will always be right there to pick me up and dust me off, because THAT is the faithfulness and promise of my God.
To
end, a week ago Hillsong United came out with a new album and on that album is
one of the songs that will be a reminder to me while I am here. The song is titled "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)." The song is describing God calling me out of my
comfort and into an Ocean of the unknown and within the unknown we find God
there right next to us to guide us through it all where “my feet may fail” and
“where I am His, and He is mine.” The end of this song is how I desire my heart
to be through this whole trip. For my faith to be fully within the hands of God
and for Him to test me throughout the next 4 months (like he already has within
these 3 weeks) so that in the end of it all, my faith will truly be made
stronger within the arms of the Lord.
“Spirit lead me
when my trust without borders,
let me walk upon
the waters,
wherever you may
call me.
Take me deeper
that my feet could ever wonder,
and my faith
will be made stronger,
in the presence of my Savior."
Kabalagala |