Do you ever wish God would just speak to you? I mean, so clearly speak to you that you’d know it was God? I do. And this morning I got my wish and my prayer answered. Bill and I were having our morning devotional and prayer time this morning, and I was telling God all about some things He already knows about. Confessionally, I was doing a whole lot of complaining about the state of the world, and God might have even understood that I thought He should be doing a better job.
Now as an aside, so you’ll understand the rest of the story – I determined several months ago that I had nothing more to offer to the political conversation that has kidnapped social media. The last few days, I have been deeply saddened over some of the rhetoric on Facebook from friends on both sides of the issues. I hear their frustration, and I feel my own. And honestly, a lot of my conversation with God this morning was related to these issues.
God’s Word speaks to the issues of borders and boundaries. It also speaks to us about welcoming strangers. And Jesus, Himself, told us to go, to go into all the world. So how do we reconcile all that in an imperfect world? I truly was wrestling with these issues, trying to find some balance.
That’s when God spoke … did I hear His voice? No. Did He write a message on the wall? No. But He spoke so clearly to me through an urgent email from a friend, a retired nurse who does mission work in a village in Uganda. She was reaching out to find sponsors for a hundred Ugandan children who would be unable to start school tomorrow because they have no money and no sponsors.
It was as though God was saying to me, “I’ll listen to your frustration, Phyllis. I’ll even listen when you tell me about the need for compassion in the world. But now would you listen to me? I’m still in control, and my work is being done, and I still have plans. I’m inviting you to be a part of that. There are children in Uganda whose lives can be changed if you’re willing to be compassionate. Why don’t you be the agent of change?”
It was so clear. I didn’t need to think or pray about it. I headed straight for Bill out in his workshop. (We always discuss things that involve money.) It took him even less time with his answer that we should help.
I do not write this to make you think I’m some super-spiritual person who’s got it all figured out. If you could have heard my private conversation with God this morning, you’d know differently. But I write just in case you might be thinking some of the same thoughts I’ve had lately, and you wonder what you could do to make a difference. Here is one way – one life at a time – like the life of Abdu, who has been unable to attend school for the last year. His mother has cancer, and because his mother has become a Christian, they’ve been turned away by other family members. Abdu is just one. In this village, there are ninety-nine more children who can’t go to school tomorrow because they live in a country where they must pay for their schooling, and they live in poverty. These are children who desperately need an education to change the trajectory of their lives.
Uganda Tree of Life Ministries is a local ministry with a global reach. A number of our friends here in Boerne make frequent trips to Uganda to work and serve in this ministry. It is one you can trust. If you’re interested, you could sponsor a child through the Uganda Tree of Life Ministries, P. O. Box 132, Boerne, Texas 78006.
As a sponsor you will receive and can write letters to your student. Send your letter to the address above (do not put your home address on the envelope), and the letter will be hand carried when teams go to Uganda. You will also receive newsletter/s and a letter of donation for tax purposes. Your $50 per month sponsorship will not only pay for tuition, it will allow your child to have a school uniform, shoes, school supplies, and medical care. If you can’t commit to a monthly sponsorship, any gift would be appreciated.
Thank you for reading this. I’m praying God will tap some of you on the shoulder like He did to me this morning. He can turn your frustration, your questions, and your sense of helplessness into action, compassionate action. You can BE an agent of change.
