55:13
“Everything changed".”
Those are the words I once muttered standing soaking wet in the Tennessee River after a fresh baptism. My mentor and friend, Pam Turney standing beside me with a warm embrace waiting. My Pastor, Brian Lukyamuzi on my other side grinning ear to ear as if he knew he had just accomplished one of the missions that God had sent him to do. This moment is one I will never forget, and I was right, everything had indeed, changed. I could have never imagined though, on that day, what was coming next. My own personal testimony is one for another day, but this moment was an end, all wrapped up in the grace of a good God, and a fresh beginning. Later that evening, as we all cleaned up the chairs, food, and supplies from the three-day tent revival that had just ended, conversation was all around. Some spoke about the wonder they had seen, the miracles that took place, and some were still silent in awe of what God had just done. I was folding a table when I found myself in a conversation with Pastor Brian. Trying to pay close attention as he spoke because the thick Ugandan accent had not yet traveled smoothly through my ears. I heard very clearly however when he confidently and simply said, “Rieves, I want you to come to Uganda.” It was not a question, or even a suggestion, he just shared a desire, but I felt in my heart a whirlwind occurring. Before I could even realize my mouth was open and words were pouring out, I was aware that in less than a single second I had responded, “Okay, I will come in October with the team.” I stunned myself, committing to going to Africa? Did I not need to go home and think about it? Pray about it? Was I getting too far ahead of myself? I was just baptized, literally hours ago, and now I am going to Uganda? Well, I had just told him yes, so I guess I am.
In the very few months leading up to leaving, I still had not quite wrapped my mind around actually getting on a plane and going. I sought the Lord deeply as to what exactly was this going to look like, but being reminded again and again that I do not get to know everything. (A hard pill to swallow) I can testify to this, the moment my feet hit those red dirt roads, I knew then why I did not think before replying to Pastor Brian that night. God wanted me here, He sent me here, and He gave me a deep love and passion for this place, and these people. There was never a moment that He did not have this planned, He was just waiting on me to answer the call. The call of walking away from a lifestyle of sin, the call of leaving parts of myself in that river, the call of obedience. Looking back now, my eyes fill with tears, but my mouth fills with laughter. God is so good. I sit now, on the floor of a house in Mpigi, Uganda, typing this. Creating and building our child sponsorship program, planning for a school for the children of this community, and seeking Jesus like I never have before. I thank God for the people he put in my path, for mentors like Pam, and Pastors like Brian, and I mostly thank Him for being exactly who He is. The God that takes a painful mess, and turns it into a purposeful beauty.
Isaiah 55:13 (NLT)
Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of His power and love.
