Being in a room full of baby incubators with newborn babies in them is usually meant to be exciting & wonderful. Being in such a room in Africa is another story.
This week I've been with a group of European pastors visiting Watoto church in Uganda. The Bulrushes baby home is a place where they take in babies that have been rescued from horrific situations.
One baby I'll never forget...
This baby was taken into the baby home after being found newborn, thrown away into a latrine toilet full of chemicals. Her face and head were so badly burned by the chemicals that she was blind. She was brought to Bulrushes and recusutated several times before becoming stable.
She is now growing & putting on weight but is very much disabled from her injuries.
We prayed with some of the children while we were there and Marilyn Skinner who is the co-founder of Watoto encouraged us that God has a plan for each and every baby that is born into these situations just as much as he has for other babies. We prayed for healing and restoration and understanding that we need hope!
In desparate situations we always need to remember the 3 things that last forever - Faith, Hope & Love.
God is a faithful God & He loves His children.
Hope helps us to believe that God has a plan that is eternal, whether that time is spent here on earth, or with Him in eternity.
Love helps us to bring God into situations that would normally leave us in peaces with no answers.
We know that the need is huge. We know we can't save every child or every person. We know it's hard. We know it's emotional.
If we know all that then we can realise that every child saved, every mother equipped, every father empowered is a life that is able to show God to another life.
The only way we can make a difference when the need is so great, is to look at every life saved and give God the glory. That gives us the hope to carry on. That gives us the faith to believe that God is on the throne & in control. That gives us the love we need when ours runs out.
I know that if these situations are happening in Uganda then they are happening in Tanzania....
Please pray for NCLC Mwanza as we start church in an area that is going to be equally difficult for us do deal with but with Christ very much at the centre!
xxx
